Come bask in the vocal brilliance of the U School of Music’s University Choirs on December 7th. Lending their warm and rich voices to stave off the chilly winter air are Chamber Choir and A Capella Choir, led by Dr. Barlow Bradford, as well as Voci Altissime, led by Dr. Emily Mercado.
In rehearsing for the upcoming concert, Chamber Choir student Mara Davis shared her enthusiasm for the process. “Choir rehearsal is always something I look forward to and that lifts me up! I’ve (not only) been given the space to improve my craft, but also to have fun.”
With a 32-member chamber choir, it can be easy to get lost in the music, but under the direction of Dr. Bradford, students participate in the highest quality choral experience, advancing their vocal technique, artistry, and musicianship. Davis noted, “Dr. Bradford has taught me to never settle for simply being good but to strive for excellence. He’s shown me how to move past notes and rhythms to create true art.”
Like Chamber Choir, both A Cappella Choir and Voci Altissime have high standards. A Cappella Choir boasts 40-80 members per semester, and students experience the benefit of being conducted by doctoral students. Voci Altissime performs a variety of the finest choral literature written and transcribed for treble voices. Each focus in the U School of Music ensures student members have the musical skills and performance knowledge to embark on a successful path after graduation.
“Dr. Bradford has taught me to never settle for simply being good but to strive for excellence. He’s shown me how to move past notes and rhythms to create true art.”
Davis will be one of those students graduating in May 2024. With an emphasis in Vocal Performance, she hopes to pursue a career as a professional opera singer. But before she trades her choir gown for a graduation gown, there is a concert to be sung!
Many audience members will enjoy “Christe Lux,” composed by Graduate Teaching Assistant Kameron Kavanaugh, which derives its spiritual themes from the Renaissance period. Others may be more attuned to “The Oxen,” a more recent carol by Jonathan Rathbone (1991) set to Thomas Hardy’s poem (1915), which communicates a hope and desire to return to more innocent times.
Whether they pick up on the precision of the diction or the nuances of the intonations, Davis hopes audiences “experience joy and an increased sense of humanity,” during and after the concert. After all, she says, “Music is all about human connection, and this program embodies that.”