Rocky Mountain Festival of Voices Nov. 14

Approximately 75 Wyoming high school singers will receive a valuable collegiate vocal experience during the Rocky Mountain Festival of Voices, hosted by the University of Wyoming Department of Music Nov. 14-15.

Students will participate in workshops, rehearsals and concerts.

The Rocky Mountain Festival of Voices is for prospective music majors to be immersed in the collegiate vocal experience, says Nicole Lamartine, UW director of choral activities. Participating students will choose either a choral leadership or a vocal performance track for specialized workshops and learning opportunities.

“We hope to inspire future music making by giving these students a great experience,” Lamartine says. She coordinates the festival that also is supported by UW Fine Arts Outreach.

The choral leadership track is for those interested in becoming music educators and conductors. Sessions will include professional choral singing, conducting and creating choral sounds.

The vocal performance track is for students interested in becoming vocal performance majors. They will learn voice science and the Alexander technique, named after Frederick Matthias Alexander. The technique teaches people how to stop using unnecessary levels of muscular and mental tension during their everyday activities.

Directed by Lamartine and UW Department of Music Assistant Professor Holly Dalrymple, participating students will sing in a festival choir. UW vocal arts faculty will teach voice lessons and offer workshops.

Three concerts also are part of the weekend festival.

The Danish a cappella group Basix performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in the UW Arts and Sciences auditorium. Tickets cost $20 for the public; $17 for seniors and UW faculty and staff members; and free for UW students. Tickets are available at the Wyoming Union information desk and the Buchanan Center for Performing Arts box office or by calling (307) 766-6666.

The free UW Choral Collage Concert is Friday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts concert hall. Performing will be UW groups Bel Canto Women’s Choir, the UW Singing Statesmen and the Happy Jacks.

The festival’s free grand finale concert is Saturday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts concert hall. Scheduled to perform are the UW Collegiate Chorale and Douglas Middle School choir conducted by Cynthia Barnard, Wyoming’s 2014 outstanding choral music educator. High school soloists and the festival choir also will perform.

For more information about the fesitval, call Lamartine at (307) 766-5242.