A List 8/25/03 SLU MUSIC ENSEMBLES OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY CANTON – The music department at St. Lawrence University offers several ensembles whose membership is open to the community. The University Chorus, the Early Music Players, the Early Music Singers and the Special Productions Ensemble are accepting new members for the Fall 2003 semester. The University Chorus, Canton’s community chorus, numbers about 50 singers. Its fall concerts, to be presented on Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16, will feature the music of the great English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, to be performed with orchestra. The Chorus also sings in the annual Candlelight Service to be held this year on Wednesday, December 10. A concert of traditional music from around the world is planned for the spring. Male singers are particularly welcome. Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. in Room 15 in Griffiths Arts Center. The Early Music Ensemble is comprised of two groups, the Early Music Players and the Early Music Singers. Their repertoire is drawn from the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods and is played on a wide variety of early instruments from the University’s Romer Collection, including recorders, crumhorns, harp, organetto, lute, viols, shawms and harpsichord. No previous experience on these instruments is required. However, a good working knowledge of modern strings, winds or keyboards is a plus. The Early Music Strings, a small string orchestra, is included in this ensemble. They rehearse on Monday evenings from 8 to 10 p.m. in Gilbert Recital Hall. The Players rehearse on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m., also in Gilbert. The Singers concentrate on the great sacred a capella music of the time and meet on Thursdays in Gunnison Memorial Chapel at 7 p.m. The Early Music Ensemble concert on Sunday, December 7, will feature 16th and 17th century German music, mostly for Christmas. Special Productions Ensemble is an instrumental group that each semester focuses on the music of a particular place and time. Last fall, they performed the music of Rodgers and Hart in a concert staged as an old-time radio show; in the spring, they were joined by Hawaiian slack-key guitarist George Kahumoku, for a luau with music and hula. This fall, they will feature Louisiana-flavored Jump Band rhythm-and-blues. The band will include winds and brass as well as guitar, keyboard, bass and drums. Rehearsals are Mondays and Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. in Griffiths 15. Concert date for the SPE will be Thursday, November 20. For membership information on any of these ensembles contact either Barry Torres at 229-5171 or btorres@stlawu.edu, or David Henderson at 229-5085 or dhenderson@stlawu.edu.-30- Back To News Releases Back to St. Lawrence Homepage