PULLMAN — WSU Vocal Extravaganza, a showcase of the vocal/choral ensembles in the School of Music, will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, in Bryan Hall Theatre.
Included in the performance will be University Singers, Concert Choir, Opera Workshop, Madrigal Singers and VoJazz. Tickets for the event cost $10 for general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets will be on sale beginning Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby of Kimbrough Music Building and will be available at the door Nov. 7 beginning at 5 p.m. It is recommended that tickets are pre-purchased to avoid lines at the door the night of the concert.
University Singers, conducted by Kyle Chandler, will open the show, performing works by Franco-Flemish Renaissance composer Jacob Arcadelt, a composition based on Russian Folk Tunes by Harvey Enders, contemporary compositions from David Dickau and gospel style writing by Keith Hampton.
The Concert Choir, a select chorus of 54 singers conducted by Lori Wiest, will continue with “Gloria” by Carrillo, “Beautiful River” and “Not One Sparrow is Forgotten” arranged by William Hawley, and a gospel selection by Byron J. Smith entitled “Shout Glory!” featuring pianist Joe Sartori, drummer Zach Peterson, and vocal soloists Jonathan Reed and Terry Cerrillo.
The students in opera workshop, under the direction of Julie Anne Wieck, will present excerpts from their full program which will be performed Nov. 20. The first excerpt, from Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operetta “Trial by Jury,” involves a breach-of-promise court case in which a young bride has been left at the altar. This will be followed by a sampling from Edwin Penhorwood’s Twentieth century opera, “Too Many Sopranos.” The scene takes place in Heaven with St. Peter needing to audition four deceased operatic sopranos for one opening in the heavenly chorus. The students are accompanied by Karen Savage, a member of the piano faculty.
Dressed in costumes reminiscent of the Renaissance, the WSU Madrigal Singers, under the direction of Wiest, will present secular madrigals by some of the most recognized English madrigal composers including William Byrd, John Farmer, Thomas Weelkes and John Wilbye, as well as two Spanish selections from around the year 1500 based on the two birds: the cuckoo and the nightingale.
VoJazz singers will present some of their favorite arrangements, jazz standards and a cappella charts. VoJazz’s new director, Kathleen Hollingsworth, brings her life-long musical experience to her directing, pulling from many influences such as vocal jazz, jazz and funk bands, gospel and choral music.
As part of their fundraising efforts, the Concert Choir members will be offering a bake sale and silent auction during intermission.
