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Delta State Choral Department Christmas Concerts on Dec. 5 and Dec. 8

By November 25, 2019

The Delta State Choral Department will offer two major concerts the first week of December 2019 to welcome in the Christmas season. Both are free and open to the public.

  • Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, at 7:30 PM in the Bologna Performing Arts Center

The annual fall on-campus performance will feature the Chamber Singers in a varied program that incorporates French chansons of the Renaissance, a setting of “The Cloths of Heaven” by African-American contemporary composer Adolphus Hailstork, and a gospel setting of “This Little Light of Mine.”  A highlight of this portion of the concert will be a work for choir, horn, and piano conducted by senior Austin Means and accompanied by Andrew Wasylina and Raven Turbeville.

The second half of the concert will transition into music for the holiday season.  Students of the Delta State Chorale will perform Vivaldi’s Gloria, a Baroque multi-movement work for choir and soloists Kaitlin Murphy, Rachel Houska, Saavedra Martin, Tiko Jones, and Jayla Isom.  Pianist and Professor of Music Dr. Kumiko Shimizu will collaborate with the choir.  The concert will conclude with several traditional Christmas pieces.

  • Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, at 2:30 PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 223 Goldstein St., Greenville

The DSU Chorale will combine with Greenville First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir and Chamber Orchestra for a performance of Gloria. Soloists include Saavedra Martin, Kaitlyn Pignataro, Amber Browning, Tiko Jones, and Jayla Isom. Included in the orchestra will be Delta State faculty members Kumiko Shimizu, professor of music, on harpsichord and Meagan Bailey, assistant professor of music, on trumpet. Conductor Julia Thorn, director of choral activities at DSU and organist at First Presbyterian, will be at the podium.

“Christmas Past and Present” will also feature sacred pieces.