Virtual fall choir concert to feature premiere of commissioned piece
The Hanover College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers will present a collection of multicultural works during the ensembles’ virtual fall concert. The performance will feature vocal selections in eight languages, including the premiere of famed composer Ola Gjeilo’s newest choral work, “Roots.”
The virtual performance will be presented at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21, at Fitzgibbon Recital Hall, Lynn Center for Fine Arts. Note: no audience will be in attendance for this performance.
Gjeilo’s “Roots” is an intimate a cappella work that is scored for a chorus of mixed voices. The piece, which delicately blends soprano, alto, tenor and bass, takes its name from the eponymous poem by acclaimed lyricist, author and composer Charles Anthony Silvestri.
In addition to the choir’s live debut of “Roots,” the concert will also feature vocal compositions in English, German, French, Italian, Latin, Bulgarian, Icelandic and Swahili.
The Hanover College Chamber Singers will perform Donald Parequin’s internationally acclaimed French-Canadian choral setting “J’entends le moulin.” Ty Allen ’21, Cecilia Susott ’21 and Rosemary Kent ’21 will present duets and trios from the Baroque era, along with American spirituals and German art songs. Arianna Harris-Kawano ’22, Hailee Holberton ’22, Cara Stanback ’22 and Cecilia Zmudzinski ’21 will perform the solos for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s exquisite “Pie Jesu.”
Madlen Batchvarova, Grammy Award recipient and director of Hanover’s choral program, seized the opportunity to join other established university and community choirs and be a part of commissioning a new work from a well-loved composer. Gjeilo, who has released multiple best-selling albums, is one of the most frequently performed composers in the choral world.
“Commissioning and performing new choral works create a challenging and supportive learning environment for our student singers,” said Batchvarova. “Decoding a brand-new choral composition before anyone else provides our singers with a unique vehicle for meaningful contribution to the choral art and showcases Hanover’s choral program as a distinctive educational and artistic entity.”
“Roots” was commissioned in 2019 by a consortium organized by Chorus America, an advocacy, research and leadership development organization that advances the choral field. All proceeds from the commissioning fees go to support the core programs and services of Chorus America.
Hanover’s contribution was underwritten by the Conner Choral Music Endowment.
