FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              April 14, 2004

SPRING CHORAL CONCERT SET FOR SUNDAY

            The choral ensembles of Northwestern Oklahoma State University will present their annual spring choral concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 18, in Herod Hall Auditorium. Dr. James Shrader, associate professor of music, will direct the singers and Dr. Rodney Murrow, professor of music, will accompany the groups. The concert is free and the public is invited to attend.

            The concert will open with selections by the Concert Choir including “Praise the Lord in Song” by Joseph Martin, “Standing in the Shadow” by Jay Althouse (Savannah White, soloist) and “The Rhythm of Life” from Sweet Charity arranged by John Leavitt.

            The program continues with the University Singers in a set of show tunes beginning with “Steppin’ Out” arranged by Deke Sharon and the King and I’s “Hello, Young Lovers” arranged by Steve Zegree with Savannah White as soloist. Next up are selections from The Fantasticks including “Try To Remember” (Shaleen Miller, Josh Jennings and Ryan White, soloists), “Soliloquy” featuring Kandee Hookstra and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.” Esther Hougham will sing “The Worst Pies in London” from Steven Sondheim’s Sweeny Todd and the set will conclude with the classic “Just in Time” from Bells Are Ringing arranged by Zegree.

            The program’s next section features the folk music of German Romantic composer Johannes Brahms. The Concert Choir will sing “Six Folk Songs” (Nos. 17-22) and the University Chorale will sing “Four Quartets,” opus 92.

            Aija Shrader, assistant professor of music, will introduce Northwestern’s winners at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Oklahoma competition. Josh Jennings, Burlington sophomore, who took third place in sophomore men, will sing “I would like a word with all you lovely women” from Cosi fan tutte by Mozart. Kevin Kerr, Conway Springs, Kan., freshman, who placed first in freshmen men, will sing “Total Eclipse” from Samson by Handel. Alek Shrader, Alva senior, who placed first in senior men, will sing “Che gelida manina” from La Boheme by Puccini. The NATS winners will be accompanied by Charla Parker.

            The concert will conclude with the University Chorale and Brass Quartet performing “An American Hymn Sampler,” a set of early American hymns arranged by John Purifoy.

            For more information, contact Dr. Shrader at 327-8591.

-NW-

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