Ripon College Chamber Singers open spring concert tour March 11 in Ripon

The Ripon College Chamber Singers will open their spring concert tour with a performance tonight in Ripon. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Our Saviour’s United Church of Christ, 343 Scott St.

The ensemble will be singing an unaccompanied concert in nine languages, including choral standards like Palestrina’s Sicut cervus and Randall Thompson’s Alleluia, as well as Italian madrigals, Rautavaara’s Suite de Lorca, and a newly commissioned work by Dale Trumbor.

The 18-member choir will be touring around the Midwest through March 15.

“A lot of great things are happening at Ripon College, including in the choral area,” says John C. Hughes, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities. “We’d like to share our music with audiences, encourage high school students to look into Ripon College, and connect with alumni on our various stops.”

Hughes says that typically, the choir works all semester to prepare for a single concert, and touring will allow them to perform their selections several times.

“Singing music from memory, as we will most of the program, and seeing how the performances change over the course of the tour are the greatest musical benefits,” he says. “Additionally, the sense of camaraderie and oneness that is forged on a tour is second to none.”

Many of the venues at which the choir will perform are churches where Hughes worked as a church musician before coming to Ripon College and places where he knows area high school choir directors.

“I’ve arranged several exchanges with high school choirs along the way and have invited even more to attend our concert,” he says. “Recruiting and outreach are two of the main goals of the tour.”

Members of the touring choir are:

Mikey Ambrowiak ’18 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Jimmy Balistreri ’19 of Plymouth, Wisconsin; Keely Eames ’18 of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin; JaneMarie Erickson ’16 of Redgranite, Wisconsin; Cori Fredericks ’19 of Appleton, Wisconsin; Margaret Goodwin ’18 of Port Washington, Wisconsin; Drew Hetz ’18 of Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Mike Lainberger ’18 of Markesan, Wisconsin; Brandon Mastalish ’16 of Mayville, Wisconsin; Carl Meisner ’16 of Minnetonka, Minnesota; Emily Miles ’17 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Emily Rausch ’16 of Deerfield, Wisconsin; Owen Reynolds ’18 of Wales, Wisconsin; McCayla Thoe ’16 of Hayfield, Minnesota; Amber Voelkel ’17 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Savannah White ’19 of Carol Stream, Illinois; Sophie Widman ’18 of Boulder Creek, California; and Ally Wilber ’17 of Bonduel, Wisconsin.

For the rest of the itinerary, click here.

Posted March 11, 2016 in Faculty, Fine Arts, Student.

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