By Liz Hammond, Digital Media Editor
On Saturday, April 29, the Chamber Singers will perform with the University Choir at 7:30 p.m. in Stretansky Concert Hall.
Members of the Chamber Singers are chosen from the University Choir. At this concert, they will be performing pieces that go beyond what is typically expected of choirs.
“Our music genres range from the Renaissance to 20th century pieces: composers such as J.C. Bach, Edenroth and Ivo Antognin,” said sophomore Ben Nause, who is a member of the Chamber Singers.
“Any audience listener can find a piece [to] emotionally connect with and enjoy from an intense performance perspective,” Nause continued.
Nause’s favorite piece that they will be performing is “Stars” by Eriks Esenvalds.
“Esenvalds’ harmonic progression and use of a lovely mel- ody, along with the beautiful, in spiring and moving text by Sara Teasdale allows this piece to soar to new heights,” Nause said.
“There is something about this piece that connects each member involved,” Nause continued. “Also, this piece is to be performed with six water tuned glasses, creating a suspenseful, yet chilly feeling.”
According to Nause, being a part of the Chamber Singers isn’t easy. The group goes through many rehearsals and each member must take their own personal responsibility.
Nause said Julia Thorn, director of the Chamber Singers and University Choir, tells them, “Excellence for the group is followed by the individual responsibility of the individual.”
Nause also said each Chamber Singers member must have “commitment, strong sense of musicality and a personal attention to refined detail.”
“All the members in this ensemble strive for perfection and work diligently outside of rehearsal,” Nause continued. “Our group meets two hours a week and I know that we all spend at least two hours outside of rehearsal to provide a musical product unlike any other on campus.”
Outside of this upcoming recital, the Chamber Singers have participated in many other events.
The group recently recorded a video for the 500th Lutheran Reformation, where the singers were featured singing the J.C. Bach piece “Er Schallet.”
Over winter break, both the University Choir and Chamber Singers also travelled to the southern United States and sung at a variety of different churches and schools.
Some of their destinations included San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Little Rock, Shreveport and Columbus. Their over all mileage was 4,500 miles and they traveled through a total of 15 different states.
