On Friday, April 10, the School of Music will present the TU Chorale for their spring concert. The event will be conducted by Dr. Kim Childs.
When Childs first came to the university, only one choir existed. Due to growth in the choir’s numbers, Childs decided to divide the program into the chamber singers (a capella) and the chorale. The chorale is the larger of the two and tends to perform smaller pieces. Several non-music majors, from engineers to nurses, are part of the chorale.
Friday’s concert will feature four student conductors, who have all been taught by Childs: Carter Jameson, Katie Creed, Thomas Adams and Melanie Piché. The role of student conductors has developed over the last few years, according to Childs, and this year features the greatest number of student conductors.
This concert is a “venue for talented conductors to develop pieces for concert,” Childs said.
Music in the concert is from the Renaissance to the 21st century.
Childs said the chorale is performing such varied music because it gives “variety of choral sounds and experiences.” Some pieces will be in a different language, such as Latin, and there will be religious and secular texts.
An Americana-style piece by Randall Thompson will be performed, as well as a Buddhist mantra piece. There will also be compositions from the late 1500s and contemporary ballads.
Following the precedent set by the last few concerts, this concert will be opened by the TU jazz group InTUition. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Gussman Concert Hall in the Lorton Performance Center.
