The Vocal Arts Ensemble, Women’s Choir, Men’s Choir and Jazz Choir of Colorado Mesa University will join together on Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Robinson Theatre at Moss Performing Arts Center, performing their theme “Music of Colorado.”
The repertoire includes songs written by composers who either lived, studied or had connections in Colorado. A few of the composers attended Monday night’s dress rehearsal to help the ensembles understand the meaning and intent behind the songs; most of them were recent music graduates. Graham Anduri, director of the CMU men’s choir and director of voice studies, says the composers brought a new dimension of talent to the music.
“They’re young people that are making some amazing music,” Anduri said.
Claire Erickson, choir member and president of choral activities, explained how the opportunity to discuss the music with its composer is one that rarely, if ever, happens.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to have them here on campus and actually get to talk to them personally about what the music means to them, then being able to portray that to everybody else,” Erickson said.
The CMU men’s choir, which started rehearsing for the concert the second week of classes following voice placement auditions, is a mixture of experience levels.
”Probably about half of the men’s choir are seasoned singers and voice majors who have been doing this for quite awhile. A pretty good number of them have never been in a choir,” Anduri said. “It’s been really neat to see them grow as a group and be able to tackle some pretty difficult repertoire.”
The Vocal Arts Ensemble, in only its second year, will also perform five pieces, including some that were worked specifically for this performance.
“We try to encompass as many styles as we can,” Erickson said.
Many songs were derived from poetry or written in more modern styles, such as “#SocialMedia” by Bryan Grosbach, which the women’s choir will perform. Members of the choir actually use their mobile phones during the performance, and Director Monte Atkinson takes a selfie on his own device at the end of the song.
“I think our sound this year is better than it ever has been and I think that has a lot to do with the repertoire that was chosen. It’s very modern and cool and not really what you think of when you hear choral music,” Erickson said.
All four ensembles will join together at the end of the concert to perform “America the Beautiful,” with so many members on the risers that they spill off the stage into the audience. Especially with the modern approach to this fall’s song selections, choir members and music faculty encourage CMU students to attend the concert and see the results of their two months of diligent practice.
Tickets are $5 for students, $12 for adults, and $10 for seniors and faculty.
