UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State University Choir will present its spring campus concert, "Praise, Freedom, Peace," at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, in Esber Recital Hall. Featured repertoire includes Joseph Haydn's "Little Organ Mass" with guest organist Mary Bahnfleth. The choir is conducted by Steven Hankle and accompanied by students Maeve Berry and Anthony Roncolato. Also appearing in the program is a chamber choir comprised of University Choir students, Sine Nomine, conducted by Willa Taylor Undergraduate Choral Conducting Intern Morgan Sichler.
Tickets are $4.99 general admission and $2 for students. No advance ticket purchase is available. Ticket go on sale (cash only) 45 minutes prior to the concert in the lobby.
University Choir program
Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo, Hob. XXII:7 — Joseph Haydn (Juliana Alfano, soprano; Mary Bahnfleth, organ)
Keep Your Lamps — André Thomas (Manny Gamble, percussion)
The Lake Isle — Ola Gjeilo (Simon Cantu, guitar; Aileen McKinstry and Leah Maines, violins; Nathan McKinstry, viola; Brandon Jung, cello)
Tshotsholoza — adapted by Jeffery L. Ames (Manny Gamble, percussion)
Requiem — Eliza Gilkyson, arranged by Craig Hella Johnson
Amazing Grace — arranged by Skipper Stradtman
Yon Monn Nouvo — Sydney Guillaume (Manny Gamble, percussion)
Penn State Alma Mater — Fred Lewis Pattee
Sine Nomine program
Verleih uns Frieden — Felix Mendelssohn
O Mistress Mine, Where are You Roaming? (from Three Madrigals) — Emma Lou Diemer
The University Choir is an 80-voice mixed choral ensemble that includes students from many colleges and departments at University Park. Conducted by Hankle, the choir performs a variety of literature representing every musical period and genre in its two major campus concerts per year.
Founded in 1948, the University Choir holds a longstanding and distinguished place within the School of Music. Performances with regional and community-based orchestras include the Johnstown Symphony, Harrisburg Symphony, Northeastern Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, and St. Louis Symphony, as well as the Penn State Philharmonic. Significant off-campus events include tours of Pennsylvania and performances for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Conference and the Eastern Division of the Music Educators National Conference. The University Choir has also toured Canada, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Sine Nomine, composed of 14 to 18 University Choir members, is a chamber choir conducted by undergraduate choral music education students. The choir performs music written for chamber vocal ensembles at many campus events.