Fond du Lac Chamber Singers present Anniversary Concert on Oct. 19

Fond du Lac, Wis.— The Fond du Lac Chamber Singers kick off the 2007-2008 UW-Fond du Lac Performing Art Series season with an Anniversary Concert and reception beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 in the Prairie Theater, 400 University Dr.

This special anniversary event includes many audience favorites from previous concerts. Former members of the Chamber Singers from the past 12 years are invited to meet at 7 pm in the rehearsal room to prepare for a reunion sing at the end of the concert.

Fond du Lac Chamber Singers, a small choral ensemble focused on performing a varied repertoire of musical styles and chamber work, was originally formed in 1996 under the direction of Patricia Eby, associate dean and music professor at UW-Fond du Lac.

“I organized the group at the request of singers who felt the need to sing more challenging literature,” said Eby. “At the time, I was newly appointed to my position at UW-Fond du Lac and was developing the vocal music program at the university.”

The ensemble is an auditioned group of singers including both students and community members. The number in the group varies from year to year, but usually consists of 16-24 members.

Teresa Emery is a charter member of the group and loves performing with the Chamber Singers.

“My husband, John, and I love to sing and we were looking for an opportunity to sing, outside of church choir,” said Emery. “The group started with primarily community members, but eventually included students as well. It has been nice for our family, because it is something John and I can do together and two of our three children have also sung with the group.”

The Chamber Singers performs a wide variety of music for small ensemble - madrigal, folk, spiritual, sacred, show tunes and pieces from all classical eras - Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic and 20th Century.

“We have sung music in many languages – Latin, Spanish, French, Romanian, Irish, Gaelic, German and Slovak.” said Emery. “I love the variety and the challenge.”

The Chamber Singers don’t limit themselves to a cappella pieces.

“Some of our best repertoire is a cappella, but we have also sung literature with wind accompaniment, brass ensemble and small orchestra,” said Eby.

She adds that the Fond du Lac Chamber Singers group is quite different from other vocal groups in the area.

“Fond du Lac is fortunate, indeed, to have a variety of ensembles bringing choral music to the area,” said Eby. “The South Shore Chorale generally prepares and performs large choral works, the Women’s Chorus and Men’s Chorus bring a different timbre and the Children’s Chorale lends us the beauty of pure children’s voices.

“The Fond du Lac Chamber Singers is quite different because of the smaller size of the ensemble and the repertoire that it can master. It is our goal to bring quality choral chamber music to the Fond du Lac area.”

Being involved in the Chamber Singers is an opportunity for singers to grow musically. The group usually presents three to four concerts each year. In the past they have hosted a community “Messiah-sing” and a Celtic Concert with a full Irish dinner-buffet. They have also sung in area churches and performed throughout the community.

The Chamber Singers is open by audition to anyone age 16 and over with prior choral singing experience and adequate music reading fluency. The option to earn college credit is available. Through the audition process, Eby also balances range and color of the voice to blend with the current ensemble. Community members interested in auditioning for the group should contact Eby at patricia.eby@uwc.edu or 929-3661.

Reserved seating advance purchase tickets for the Chamber Singers Anniversary Concert are adults $6, area students $3 and UW-FDL students free. Tickets sold at the door are $2 more and are general admission seating.

This concert is part of the UW-Fond du Lac Performing Arts Series and pre-season packages which include a ticket to each event for the upcoming year can be purchased at a savings thru Oct. 19.

Tickets can be purchased for either this concert or the entire Performing Arts Series in the UW-Fond du Lac Business Office (M-F, 8-4:30) or by phone with a credit card at (920) 906-6350. More information is available online at www.fdl.uwc.edu/series.



« BACK to Main News Page