ASU Concert Choir, University/Community Choirs to present pre-Italian tour concert March 15

March 15, 2010 -- The Department of Music at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro will present the ASU Concert Choir and University/Community Choir in a performance to feature pieces they will perform on its tour to Rome, Florence and Siena, Italy. The concert will take place on Monday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro. The chorus is made up of 33 ASU Concert Choir members and the 56-voice University/Community Choir. The choir will be directed by ASU director of choral activities, Dr. Dale Miller, and graduate assistant Janet Tullos. Repertoire for the Jonesboro concert will come from selections by 16^th century Italian and 20^th-21^st century American composers, featuring African American spirituals—an audience favorite in both Europe and America. Although all the selections will be performed without accompaniment, rehearsal accompanists are Brian Henkelmann of Jonesboro for the Concert Choir, and Yuta Nishimura of Japan for the University/Community Choir. The concert is free of charge and the public is cordially invited to attend.

The University/Community Choir is made up of current and former ASU Choir students and faculty, choir students’ family members, and other interested Jonesboro-area singers. Since participation in the Italian tour is not mandatory for all members of the choirs, only 33 ASU Concert Choir members and 18 of the non-student members of the 56-voice University/Community Choir will be traveling. The tour group will depart on Thursday, March 18th and perform in Florence at the Church of Santa Maria de Ricci, in Siena at the Duomo, and in Rome’s Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva and St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, the world’s largest Christian church before returning home on Friday, March 26.

The Concert Choir will be performing “O Vos Omnes” by Carlo Gesualdo; “Scendi dal Paradiso” by Luca Marenzio; “Adoramus te, Christe” by Eric Barnum; “Sing Unto God” by Paul Fetler; “Earth Song” by Frank Ticheli; “Sicut Cervus” by Z. Randall Stroope, conducted by Janet Tullos; “Honey in the Rock” by Jonesboro composer and Nettleton High School Choir director Jonathan Adams, also conducted by Ms. Tullos; three Moses Hogan Spirituals, “I Can Tell the World,” “We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace,” and “Good News, the Chariot’s Comin.’”  The University/Community Choir will join the Concert Choir for “Missa Brevis” by Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina, featuring Katie Fischer, Rebecca Craft, and Jeremy Carter, soloists, and Craig McAlister, cantor; “O Bone Jesu” by Palestrina; “Psalm 126” by Abby Betinis; “Set Me As a Seal upon Your Heart” by Rene Clausen; “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” arranged by Peter C. Lutkin; “I’m Gonna Sing ‘til the Spirit Moves in My Heart” by Hogan; “All My Trials” by Norman Luboff, featuring Nick Robbins, soloist; and “Shut De Do’” by Randy Stonehill, featuring Roberta Tupper, soloist. 

Members of the combined choir are sopranos Susan Allen, Rebecca Craft, Hannah McQuay, and Nancy Miller, all of Jonesboro, Jessica Baldwin of Paragould, Lauren Bridges of Marmaduke, Lela Dudley of Blue Springs, MS, Katie Fischer of Jacksonville, Catie Holiman of St. Louis, Melissa Jackson of Pine Bluff, Kortney LaCombe of Hot Springs, Erin Reagan of Munford, TN, Kristy Shotwell of Manila, Ginah Smith of White Hall, Kate Smith of Wynne, Megan Stapleton of Pocahontas, Manami Suzuki of Japan, Janet Tullos of Cabot, and Roberta Tupper of Bartlesville, OK.  Altos are Megan Bishop, Katie Cole, and Alissa Cooper, all of Paragould, Suemone Christian, Paige Harris, and Tiffanie Manes, all of Bryant, Jeanie Clements of Batesville, Jordan Farris, Gayle Howe, Rhinda Kesselring, Crystal Richards, Laura Richards, Sloane Simmons, Jane Tims, and Dianne Wage, all of Jonesboro, Katherine Richards of Osceola, Jamie Holiman of Gideon, MO, Madison Kuebler of Searcy, Jenny Pham of New York, NY, Tami Robbins and Michele Shotwell of Manila, Nancy Sinnett of Mustang, OK, Joniece Trammel of Pocahontas, and Miranda Weaver of Rector.  Tenors are Chuck Allen, Craig McAlister and John Yerger, all of Jonesboro, Jeremy Carter of Paragould, Grant Fleming of Little Rock, Wesley Hooper of Harrisburg, Kyle Plunkett of Pine Bluff, Nick Robbins of Manila, Chris VanBrook of Hoxie, and Blake Watters of Mountainview.  Basses are Jarvis Brodee, Kelly Craft, Markham Howe, Kale McDaniel, Matt Morgan, Brandon Stroud, Bill Wage, and Taylor Woodruff, all of Jonesboro, Gabrien Brown of Newport, Adam Earhart and Patrick Manes of Bryant, David Lyttle of Blytheville, Blake Markum of Paragould, and Drew Warren of Manila. 

For more information about the concert or ASU music, please feel free to contact the music office at (870) 972-2094.

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