Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Men's Choral Festival to include high school students

Monday, September 24, 2012
The Men's Choral Festival will allow students from area high schools to perform with the Southeast University Choir, Chamber Choir and a music fraternity. Submitted photo.

Dr. Peter Durow, the director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Education at Southeast Missouri State University, is conducting the second annual Men's Choral Festival.

"I want to get high school students involved," Durow said.

The festival is for any high school males who are involved in their school's choir program and want to register. A majority of the participants are from local high schools such as Cape Central High School and Jackson High School, but some do travel from farther areas of the state.

To participate, students must pay the admittance fee of $20 by Sept. 28. An optional T-shirt is available for an additional $10 with the proceeds benefitting the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity, which will be performing along with the high school students.

Durow said students will learn songs for that evening's performance at the festival, tour the River Campus, study vocal technique, rehearse and perform. The participants will work alongside Southeast's University Choir.

Some high school juniors and seniors may have the opportunity to take part in personalized mini-lessons with vocal instructors at the university.

The students will stay together for the majority of the day and work as a group to make the performance a success. Durow said that during their time on campus, he hopes to inspire the students to become Redhawks in the future.

The performance will begin with the students singing an African chant. Next, students will perform a piece written by Durow entitled "The Lamb."

"Lambscapes" is the third segment, and it is a work that is split into four parts, ranging from Gregorian chant to Italian opera. This piece is based on "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Its familiarity should be helpful while the students learn about different vocalized styles from music history.

The Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity, 50-member University Choir and 16 members of the Chamber Choir will also perform.

Durow encourages the public to attend the free concert, which he says will include "great performances." The festival begins at 9 a.m. in the Robert F. and Gertrude L. Shuck Music Hall and will conclude with the performance at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 in the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus.

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