Department of Music to present
ninth Madrigal Feaste

Oct. 29, 2007 -- In the style of Merrie Olde England, with costumes, decorations, comedy, and fanfare, the Arkansas State University Choirs will present the ninth Madrigal Feaste Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, at 6:30 p.m., in the Grand Hall of ASU’s Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive. The feaste returns as the largest fundraising event of the year for the choral ensembles of the department of music, and the proceeds will benefit both the Alfred Skoog Scholarship for graduate students studying choral conducting and the ASU singers’ trip to Carnegie Hall in January, 2008.

The Chamber Singers, led by Dr. Dale Miller, director of choral activities, will host the evening’s entertainment and serve as the court of Henry the Eighth, King of all England, Jonesboro, and Craighead County. Guests will enjoy the Wassail Bowl beginning at 6:15 p.m., and seating will begin with the first fanfare at 6:30 p.m. The music of the feaste will include traditional carols by the servers and audience, and brass fanfares and harpsichord solos, as well as madrigals and chansons by the royal court. The menu for the royal feaste will include broasted turkey, roasted parsley potatoes, petite carrots and sweet peas, cranberry relish, apple-walnut salad, and hot rolls. A flaming pudding will be served with the royal fanfare.

The lords and ladies of the Royal Court, played by members of the Chamber Singers, are as follows:  Angela Jackson of Naylor, Mo., Tiffany Mitchell of Springdale, Elizabeth Schug of Paragould, Renee Porter of Kingwood, Texas, and Patricia Register of Florence, Ala., sopranos; Jessica Crociata of Tampa, Fla., Rebecca Craft of Jonesboro, Crystal Stormes of Goobertown, and Tiffanie Holland of Bryant, altos; Rusty Shields of Osceola, Justin Register of Huntsville, Ala., Jeremy Carter of Paragould, and Josh Dennis of Springfield, Mo, tenors; and Patrick Manes of Bryant, Derrick Palmer of Brinkley, Mark Parsley of Malvern, and Nick Robbins of Manila, basses.



The role of the Court Jester will be played by Perry Harper of Paragould and the Steward will be Willie Sullivan of Jonesboro. The knaves and wenches will be played by the remaining members of the ASU Concert Choir. Priscilla Noyes, harpsichordist, Jay Shepherd, guitarist, and the student brass ensemble will provide accompaniment for the evening’s singing, dancing, and feasting. 

Tickets will go on sale Thursday, Nov. 1, and will be available for the Thursday, Nov. 29 performance through Monday, Nov. 26. Tickets for Saturday, Dec. 1 may be purchased through Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the ASU Central Box Office or by calling (870) 972-2781 or (888) 278-3267. The Friday, Nov.  30 performance will again be hosted by the ASU Faculty Women’s Club, and tickets may be obtained by contacting Carol Tinsley at (870) 972-3234.

All seats are reserved, and space is limited. Ticket prices are $35 for the general public, and $30 for ASU faculty, staff, and students, as well as senior citizens. Proceeds will benefit the ASU Choir’s concert tour to New York to sing in Carnegie Hall on January 13, 2008, and the choral scholarship program, as well. 

For more information, contact Dr. Dale Miller in the Department of Music at (870) 972-3841.

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