MOREHEAD, Ky. (WTVQ / MSU Public Relations) – Morehead State University’s annual choral festival will return after a year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 61st MSU Choral Festival takes place on November 8 and 9, with a concert presented to the public each evening.
The Morehead State University Choirs will perform at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 8 at First Baptist Church, 123 E. Main Street in Morehead. The show titled “Come Let’s Rejoice” will feature MSU Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Jazz Vocal Ensemble and Black Gospel Ensemble. The concert is free and open to the public.
Chamber Singers will open the program with “Come, let’s rejoice” by John Amner, “Lully, Lulla, Lullay” by Philip Stopford and “The Coolin” by David Dickau. They will also perform an “All-Star” adaptation of the opener of the animated film “Shrek” and a Mexican waltz titled “Tipitin” made famous in the United States in the 1950s by the Andrews Sisters.
The concert part of the Concert Choir includes two pieces in memory of Elizabeth Anne Creamer (February 1, 2002 – October 18, 2021): “Sing Me to Heaven” and Let My Love Be Heard. Other pieces include the closer concert “Forever Music” and “Sogno Di Volare” by Christopher Tin, which is used as the main theme for the video game “Civilization VI”.
MSU’s Jazz Vocal Ensemble will perform arrangements of “Smile”, “Don’t Know Why”, “Alfie” and “Caravan”, and the Black Gospel Ensemble will share “Have Your Way”, “Great God” and “Souled Out” . ”
At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9, 100 high school students from nine different high schools in Ohio and Kentucky perform in the ballroom of the Adron Doran University Center (ADUC). The show is directed by Dr. Eph Ehly, one of America’s most sought-after choral clinicians. The concert includes pieces sung by the festival choir and solos presented by the winners of the high school soloist competition. Admission to this concert is $ 3.
Songs sung by the choir include “Fare Thee Well Love” arranged by James Mulholland, “Bring Him Home” arranged by John Leavitt and “Sanctus” from “Requiem” by Gabriel Faure. The catchy choral / instrumental arrangements of “Joy to the Word” and “This Little Light of Mine” form the opening and closing bookends of the concert.
“We are so happy that things went well and that we can enjoy the festival again,” said Dr Greg Detweiler, music teacher and director of choral studies at MSU. “The festival is very important for recruitment. Most of our voice majors at MSU attended the event as high school students. ”
Morehead State University is committed to ensuring the safety and health of our faculty, staff, students, and guests. We follow CDC guidelines and require proper spacing and masking indoors.
For more information on the choral festival, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/choral-festival, email Detweiler at g.[email protected] or dial 606-783-2480.
To learn more about music programs at MSU, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/music.
