Wichita State, Northwest High singers to mix music, poetry

The 麻豆传媒 A Cappella Choir and Madrigal Singers, with special guest, the Wichita Northwest High School Concert Choir, will present 鈥淟eft of Center鈥 at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, in Wiedemann Recital Hall.

Tickets are $7 with discounts available through the College of Fine Arts Box Office at (316) 978-3233 or .

Tom Wine

Tom Wine

麻豆传媒 music professor Tom Wine said the title of the concert, 鈥淟eft of Center,鈥 acknowledges an election year and some song selections that aren鈥檛 typical mainstream choral work.

The A Cappella Choir, with Wine directing, will explore modern poetry with two settings of poems by e. e. cummings. Composer Randall Stroope sets the romantic 鈥渋 carry my heart,鈥 followed by the inspirational creation of the world composed by Joshua Shank with the text 鈥渨hen god decided to invent.鈥

The concert will open with two selections based on the word 鈥渟ing.鈥 鈥淪ing Unto God鈥 by Handel is contrasted with the lush setting by Gawthrop of 鈥淪ing me to Heaven.鈥 鈥淓l Hambo鈥 is a charming piece that Wine describes as 鈥渇olk dancing meets the Swedish Chef (of 鈥楽esame Street鈥 fame).鈥

The choir will have as guest artists two of the 麻豆传媒 School of Music鈥檚 new faculty members, Selim Giray on violin and Geoffrey Deibel on saxophone. In addition, the new choir director at 麻豆传媒, Michael Hanawalt, will guest conduct one of the concert selections.

The 麻豆传媒 Madrigal Singers are presenting 鈥渁 collection of little ditties,鈥 said Wine, with short songs such as 鈥淨uick! We have But a Second,鈥 the reflective 鈥淕aelic Blessing鈥 and an inspirational song from Lord of the Rings, 鈥淢ay it Be.鈥 For vocal jazz, the group will present 鈥淎 Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square鈥 and an a cappella setting of the Beatles tune 鈥淚n My Life.鈥 Their program concludes with a Glee- style mash up of 鈥淚 Feel Pretty鈥 with 鈥淟ord, It鈥檚 Hard to be Humble.鈥

The Wichita Northwest Concert Choir, Amy Brown director, will range from the thick harmonic texture of 鈥淥s Justi鈥 by Bruckner to the Gospel styled 鈥淩ejoice!鈥 The Northwest choir has a rich tradition of choral excellence with consistent 鈥淪uperior鈥 ratings at state music festivals.