Southeastern choirs to join Northshore Choral Society for performance Dec. 6
Monday, November 30, 2015
by: Rene Abadie
HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University Chorus, Concert Choir and Women’s
Chorale will join the Northshore Choral Society for a performance at St. Joseph’s
Abbey in St. Benedict near Covington on Dec. 6.
Sponsored by the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, the free performance
is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Conductors include Southeastern Director of the University
Chorus/Northshore Chorale Brian Martinez and Director of Choral Activities Alissa
Mercurio Rowe, who will direct choirs with the assistance of several student conductors.
“The individuals associated with the University Chorus, the Northshore Choral
Society and the Women’s Chorale and Concert Choir have dedicated many hours of work
and rehearsal time preparing for this major undertaking,” said Rowe. “We believe our
audience will be thrilled and inspired by this performance.”
The concert begins with the University Chorus and Northshore Choral, under conductor
Martinez, performing “Carol of the Bells” arranged by Peter Wilhousky and “Away in
a Manager” arranged by Ola Gjeilo. The Women’s Chorale, with undergraduate student
Nicholas Smith of Ponchatoula conducting, will perform “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen”
arranged by Lara Hoggard, and “Silent Night.”
Rowe said the event will also feature the Concert Choir performing a new piece
titled “Daughter of Light,” written by undergraduate student Michelle Guillot of Slidell.
Rowe will conduct the Concert Choir as they sing “Welcome All Wonders” and “A
Boy Was Born.” Both songs are from “Nativity Suite” by Dale Warland and are accompanied
by harp and flute. Martinez will conduct the University Chorus and the Northshore
Choral Society in a performance that features “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” arranged
by Elizabeth Poston, “Ubi Caritas” arranged by Martinez himself, and “Noel Nouvelet”
arranged by Richard Zgodava.
For their finish, the University Chorus and Northshore Choral will be led by Martinez
in Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” a piece composed in Venice around 1715, likely for
a Christmas Mass. Various sections of the Gloria will include solo performances by
Southeastern students, including “Laudamus te” with sopranos Lauren Gibson of Walker
and Rachel Davis of Mandeville; “Gratias agimus tibi,” with graduate coordinator Amy
Prats of Abita Springs; “Propter magnam gloriam Domine Deus” with soprano Sara Cage
of Baton Rouge; “Domine deus, Agnus Dei,” with mezzo-soprano Rachel Denton of Houma;
and “Qui sedes a dexteram Patris” with mezzo-soprano Jane Rownd Wear of Hammond.
For more information on the concert, contact the Department of Fine and Performing
Arts at 985-549-2184.