The ECU Singers and the University Chorale will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 [THURSDAY] at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ada.
Dr. Steve Walker, professor of music at East Central University, will direct both groups in traditional works, but most of the program features pieces that have been composed during the last five years, including two by Ada composers Victoria Davison and Rudy Lupinski.
The ECU Singers will perform “Kyrie,” composed in 2009 by Benjamin Boster, a 30-year-old graduate of Brigham Young University; “Miserere,” a beautifully haunting piece by the 24-year-old Estonian composer Pärt Uusberg; and “My Flight from Heaven” by another outstanding young American composer, Blake Henson, who wrote it for the Westminster Choir College of Rider University where he was a student. It was premiered by the Westminster Choir in 2007.
Other recent pieces to be performed by the ECU Singers are “All my Heart this Night Rejoices,” written in 2006 by Z. Randall Stroope, a prolific composer of choral music and faculty member at Oklahoma State University; and “Every Stone Shall Cry,” composed in 2008 by Rudy Lupinski and Victoria Davison. The Singers will be assisted on the piece by Dr. Doug Laramore, trumpet, and Dr. Starla Hibler, organ.
Hibler will be the pianist for “Gloria” from the “Missa Sancti Nicolai,” the Mass No. 6 in G major by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1808). The ECU Singers will perform the Mass in its entirety during its spring concert on April 18.
The University Chorale’s program includes “Hodie Christus Natus Est” by Giovann Gabrieli (ca. 1554-1612), an antiphonal double motet in the Venetian school style of the late Renaissance; “Zigeunerleben” (Gypsy Life) by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) with Rudy Lupinski at the piano; and “Chanson Éloignée” by Morten Lauridsen, a noted contemporary composer of choral music. Lauridsen was commissioned by the Pacific Chorale to write this piece. It was premiered in 2006.
Three additional works by Davison and Lupinski also are on the Chorale’s program, “Two Hymns for Communion,” “For as Often as You Eat of this Bread” and “The Communion.”
Students who will perform in the concert are Sarah Barnes, Hunter Braly, Emily Briggs, Caitlin Gray, Wyas Parker, Carissa Rodgers, Abigail Seal, Samantha Spears, Jennifer Whitley and James Williamson, all of Ada; Leandra Morgan and Sarah Sanders, Coalgate; Derek Akers, Sulphur; Jessy Beasley, Calvin; and Zach Champagne, Starlet Etheridge, Kourtni Moore and Clayton Sullivan, all of Tishomingo.
Others are Maygan Howard, Chloe Henry, Laura Knight, Chalie Smith and Meleah Underwood, all of Stratford; Ashley Tucker, Sasakwa; Leah Creason, Beggs; Kaleb Gordon and John Stone, Seminole; Jesslyn Richards, Wewoka; Sam Crosby and Sheena Stallings, Shawnee; and Joshua Coats, Justin Cody, Ryan Hulin, Tommy Long and Tim Long, all of Tecumseh.
Also, Carson Brewer, Moore; Ryan Codopony, Jacie Hutcherson and Eevie Jennings, all of Noble; Jamie Cothren, Wynnewood; Nick Geisler, Little Axe; Gabe Gonzales, Purcell; Kathleen Madden, Wayne; Kendra Parker, Norman; and Shealon Wooten, Verden.
The choral groups also include Krysta Cassell, Bristow; Jordan Myers, Sapulpa; Nathaniel Sheeley, Owasso; Jackie Switzer, Cleveland; Christina Kushnick, Spiro; Claire Marquardt, Poteau; Lydia Speake, Wister; Amber Simpson and Ashlie Simpson, Valiant; Nicholas Nottingham and Billy Snead, Atoka; and Angela Marshall, Kelsie Pletcher and Samantha Tyler, all of McAlester.
Others are Mario Dillard, Miguel Mireles and Nathan Steinman of Oklahoma City; Meg Stewart, Wellston; Morgan Harper and Clint Prucha, Comanche; Joseph Mohr, Sayre; Richard Lehr, Kingston; Kayla Williams, Madill; Stephen McClesky and Rebekah Unruh, Ardmore; Brandon Cowans, Bakersfield, Calif.; B.J. Trail, Havelock, N.C.; Casey Long, Bloomfield, N.M.; and Sara Houchin, Whitewright, Texas.
Community members singing with the groups are Caleb Bonar, Victoria Davison, Angie Brunk and Phillip Berryhill.
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