UW choirs will perform in a combined choral concert Monday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts concert hall. (UW Photo)
The University of Wyoming Department of Music will host a combined choral concert
featuring the Laramie Civic Chorus, Happy Jacks, Laramie Children’s Chorus, Meadowlarks
and Singing Statesmen Monday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing
Arts concert hall.
Tickets are available at www.tix.com/ticket-sales/uwyo/6984/event/1466262 , in person or at (307) 766-6666 at the Performing Arts box office, Monday through
Friday, noon-6 p.m. and one hour before performances.
The program highlights diverse musical styles and includes a special recognition of
graduating seniors.
The Happy Jacks, directed by Brian Murray, open the evening with the popular folk-rock
anthem “Wagon Wheel,” followed by a choral arrangement of the Beatles classic “Here
Comes the Sun” and the powerful ballad “Go the Distance” from Disney’s “Hercules.”
The Laramie Children’s Chorus, conducted by Beth Kean, Allison Murray and Brian Murray,
with Michael Lechner on piano, presents “Shine” by Matt and Adam Podd, “The Moon”
by Andy Beck and the traditional South African hymn “Siyahamba.”
The Meadowlarks, directed by O’Neil Jones, perform Sarah Quartel’s “Songbird,” the
classic romantic ballad “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” and “Man That I Need.”
This portion of the evening also includes a special recognition ceremony for the program’s
graduating seniors.
The Laramie Civic Chorus, conducted by Jones with pianist Renato da Silva, follows
with Kyle Pederson’s stirring five-movement suite, “A Vision Unfolding.” This major
work weaves together texts from Langston Hughes, Walt Whitman, Robert Bode, Shanelle
Gabriel and Kyle Pederson to explore themes of social justice and community. The performance
features guest instrumentalists Amelia Pharis on violin, Ashton Tyler on trumpet and
Kai Wolz on snare drum.
The Singing Statesmen, directed by Brian Murray with Luciano Filizola on piano, conclude the program with Troy Robertson’s “In Meeting We Are Blessed,” the rhythmic Latin piece “Daemon Irrepit Callidus” by György Orbán, the high-energy spiritual “I’m Gonna Sing ‘Til the Spirit Moves in My Heart” and Joseph Martin’s dramatic anthem “The Awakening.”
