PULLMAN – The School of Music at WSU will present its annual Vocal Extravaganza, a showcase of the five choral ensembles on campus, at 8 p.m. Nov. 9 in Bryan Hall Theatre. The event will feature performances by the WSU Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers, University Singers, VoJazz, and Crimson Revue.
Madrigal Singers, wearing costumes reminiscent of the Renaissance period, will perform madrigals by John Dowland and Giovanni Gastoldi and an arrangement of the Beatle’s popular tune “Penny Lane”.
The 70-voice University Singers will be performing the first three movements from Missa Brevis in D Major, KV. 194, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. These three movements, Kyrie, Gloria, and Credo will be sung in Latin. The chorus will be accompanied by Marissa Jones, pianist.
American composers Dominick Argento, Eric Whitacre, Norman Luboff and Libby Larsen are featured in the performance by WSU’s Concert Choir. Pianist Joe Sartori will accompany the choir in Argento’s chorus of “Gloria” taken from his opera “The Masque of Angels,” Luboff’s arrangements of American folk song “The Deer Chase” and ballad “Fools Rush In”, and Libby Larsen’s rousing “A Hoopla” from her work entitled “The Settling Years.” Two selections from Eric Whitacre’s “Three Flower Songs” will be performed in preparation for the composer’s visit to WSU in February.
VoJazz, WSU’s Vocal Jazz ensemble, will begin after intermission with a lightning- fast rendition of the standard “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby” featuring Ted Powers on the drum set. The set will continue with a trip to South America with the Brazil 66 hit “Mas Que Nada” singing in Portuguese and a Gospel-flavored “Let Your Love Rain on Me.”
Crimson Revue will bring fans back to the 1980’s with the Latin infused #1 hit “All Night Long” by Lionel Richie. This portion of the concert will also highlight some of Broadway’s current favorites including a medley from the Academy award winning remake of “Dreamgirls”. Songs include “Move”, “Family” and the title-track, “Dreamgirls” and a rendition of “For Good” from smash hit musical “Wicked’.
Tickets will be available the week of the performance Nov. 7-9, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the lobby of Kimbrough Hall or at the door the night of the performance beginning at 6 p.m. in Bryan Hall. Tickets will sell for $10 for general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens. All proceeds go directly to the ensembles for purchasing music and for expenses for performance tours.
