Monday, November 5, 2007
PRINCESS ANNE, MD – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Concert Choir performs “Sights and Sounds of Barbados, West Indies” on the stage of the Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, November 11, at 4 p.m.
Traditionally, the Choir’s fall performance celebrates the musicians’ most recent performance abroad; and last spring, the Choir performed in Barbados. In another Concert Choir tradition, the fall concert will pay tribute to veterans of all branches of military service.
Sharing the stage with the Concert Choir are guest performers Patricia Saunders Nixon of Norfolk, Va., soprano, and the Capriccio Strings of Hampton Roads, Va. Saunders, an alumna of Norfolk State University, graduated cum laude in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in music. In 1988, she graduated from Norfolk State University with a master of music degree in vocal performance. A concert soprano soloist, she has performed with the Virginia Opera Association, the Virginia Symphony, and the I. Sherman Green Chorale. In addition, she has performed the role of Clara in the world-class opera, “Porgy and Bess,” in major opera houses in three countries in South America, the Harrison Opera house in Norfolk, Va., and the Carpenter Center in Richmond, Va. She is a member of Gamma Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
The UMES Concert Choir has performed on tour domestically and internationally at universities; academies; public, private and parochial schools; and churches of various denominations, while performing benefit concerts along the way. Domestically, the choir’s travels have taken them to Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and Florida. It held one of its most memorable domestic performances at the United Nations “Zeus Area” in New York. Internationally, the choir has toured Trinidad, West Indies; London, England; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Paris, France; Frankfurt, Germany; and most recently Barbados, West Indies.
The UMES Concert Choir performs all forms of choral literature, including James Weldon Johnson’s “God’s Trombone,” Linda Twine’s “Change my Name” and other selected works by American and European composers. The program for the afternoon performance will include compositions by Haydn, Washburn, Manuel, Wilby, Ticheli, Martin, Still, Haywood, Dett, Bernstein, Carter, Powell, Bartholomew and Morris.
The UMES Concert Choir performs under the direction of Dr. Sheila Harleston. Admission is free and the community is welcome to attend.
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Suzanne Waters Street, director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-621-2355, sstreet@umes.edu.
