The University Concert Singers pose at a performance at Melk Abbey in Austria. (Photo/Donald Trott)
On May 14, the University Concert Singers set off on a ten-day concert tour of Europe. The tour began with a stay in the city of Leipzig, Germany; the choir sang in the Thomaskirche, a church famed as the employer and eventual resting place of Johann Sebastian Bach.
In Berlin, the choir sang at the Berliner Dom accompanied by an organ with over 7000 pipes — the largest in Germany when it was installed in 1905. The choir also performed in Prague and Vienna, and sang excerpts from Verdi’s Requiem at the Terezin concentration camp in the Czech Republic. The performance in Terezin was informal and laden with emotion; the former concentration camp was originally populated by a number of artists and musicians, as it was intended to be a model community for personae non gratae of the German Nazis during World War II.
A performance of Verdi’s Requiem was held for Red Cross officials who came to inspect the camp in June of 1944 as proof that the camp provided inmates with good living conditions and a cultural education, led by people of their own ethnicity and background.
Kimberly Coleman, who graduated in May with a master’s degree in vocal performance, called the Europe tour a unique opportunity and a powerful learning experience for students.
“It is high praise for the University that they support students and professors in providing these kinds of opportunities to explore other cultures far away from our own little Oxford,” Coleman said, who sang a short but poignant solo during the impromptu Requiem performance.
Though the Europe tour was the final performance for several choir members who graduated in May, the remaining singers, as well as new students from the incoming freshman class, will begin work in the fall on new pieces.
Every year, choral conductors Donald Trott and Deborah Spurgeon work to provide the University Chorus and Concert Singers with a varied and challenging repertoire. The choirs perform several concerts each semester, providing ample opportunities for the Ole Miss and Oxford communities to enjoy the fruits of many months of rehearsal and dedication.
In previous years, Trott, Spurgeon and the choral music department have hosted a number of guest composers, including Sara Graef and Eric Whitacre, and have explored every musical genre from classical to spirituals. Last year’s offerings included the complete Requiem by Verdi and a concert featuring the music of Eriks Esenvalds, who came to the Ole Miss campus as a guest conductor. He worked extensively with the choral music department in preparation for the performance.
Though the choirs have yet to announce their fall repertoire, an extensive history of excellent performances indicates that this year’s offerings will surely surpass expectations. The fall choral concert, featuring the University Chorus and Women’s Ensemble, is on Oct. 16. It will be held at North Oxford Baptist Church at 7 p.m.
