CWU Choirs: Breeze of Fall

The CWU Choirs invite you to indulge in choral music Sunday, November 24 at 4pm in the Hertz Concert Hall of the McIntyre Music building on the CWU campus. The event is ticketed and features performances by University Chorale, Wildcat Chorus, Vox Divina, and The CWU Chamber Choir. The CWU choirs will present a variety of music from many singing traditions in their concert, “Breeze of Fall.” CWU Director of Choirs Dr. Nicole Lamartine says “we are so excited to share with the Ellensburg community the continued tradition of excellence in the choral area.” The concert will highlight all traditional choral ensembles on campus, from non-auditioned groups to the nationally-renowned CWU Chamber Singers. Additionally, the two graduate teaching assistants studying choral conducting will be conducting on the concerts. “Both Maria Kramer and Christopher Lerch have grown so much in their musicianship during their short time on campus,” says Lamartine. University Chorale, conducted by Prof. Vijay Singh, is the largest mixed choral ensemble at CWU open to all students without audition. The ensemble builds musicianship, vocal technique, a commitment to excellence through varied programming. Vox Divina, the non-auditioned treble choir, creates beauty in community by performing expressive music that inspires with their “intoxicating” sound. Conducted by Dr. Nicole Lamartine, the choir will present pieces that unite humanity in powerful traditions from Lithuania, Hawaii, and the US. The CWU Wildcat Chorus is an energetic non-auditioned group which fosters a team attitude and support for all tenors and basses in the ensemble. This is Dr. Scott Peterson’s thirteenth year conducting the ensemble, and they will present pieces from the low voice choir tradition, including the South African “Modimo” and “Loch Lomond” from the British Isles. The CWU Chamber Choir has been hailed as the “finest collegiate choir in the west” with “genius programming.” Under the leadership of Dr. Nicole Lamartine, the choir will sing the premiere of a movement of a larger commissioned work called “Fire on the Mountain” by Kansas composer, Forrest Pierce. Also on the program is a contemporary setting of “Veni sancte spiritus” by Black composer Zenaida Robles. Rounding out the variety is a new rendition of Bob Dylan’s “The Times, They Are A-Changin'.” All ticket proceeds go towards operational costs for the CWU choral program.