Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. - Introit: Requiem
(Translation of title text: Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them.)
Tonight...or rather the night of November 15th, I had a marvelous experience but let me start at the beginning.
On August 27th, I auditioned to be part of the newly formed choir American Festival Chorus (formerly the Northern Utah Choral Society) and I have shamefully snagged from the AFC's website the "bio" on the Chorus:
"The American Festival Chorus and Orchestra was organized in the fall of 2008 as a community outreach program for the Department of Music at Utah State University. Dr. Craig Jessop was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor, with Dr. Cory Evans as Associate Director, and Christine Clark as Managing Director.
The Chorus is an all-volunteer, auditioned ensemble of some 250 talented singers who represent a diverse cross section of students, faculty, and staff at USU and choral artists from all walks of life within a 50-mile radius.
The Orchestra is a professional ensemble comprised of instrumentalists from the region including the members of the highly acclaimed Fry Street String Quartet of USU, members of the USU Music Faculty, professional musicians from the area, and outstanding USU music majors. Together, these ensembles are destined to become a dynamic force in the rich cultural climate of our community."
Craig Jessop is one of the greatest directors in the world and it is such a wonderful chance and privilege to be able to work with such a director as he. He's the former director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and he's what made that choir absolutely fantastic. My dad was a member of it for 17 years, a few years of it before Craig came on board and there's an incredible difference between the MTC before Craig and after Craig. He took the choir so far.
But...the MoTab's loss is our gain here in Cache Valley and I cannot get over how much I enjoy working with Craig and being part of the AFC.
Now, onto why this evening was such a marvelous experience. Tonight, after twelve weeks of intense rehearsal, the AFC debuted by performing the famed Mozart Requiem, one of the greatest pieces of music ever written and probably my favorite. It has long been a dream of mine to sing the Requiem and I finally got my chance this year...with Craig Jessop. I'm still floating on a sea of euphoria after the performance, marvelling at such an experience.
And it's not over! The AFC has adjourned for the rest of the year but will be meeting up again in January to begin rehearsing Beethoven's Choral Fantasy and Carmina Burana to be performed on March 28th, 2009. We will also be working on Beethoven's 9th Symphony (to be performed on April 25th, 2009.
The performance of the Requiem was recorded and AFC members will be able to order copies and I will be doing so. I will put up a sample track of the performance so you can all hear the choir if you so desire. I will also post the publicity photo that was taken last Sunday as soon as I can.
I will post randomly about my experiences with Craig probably and the performances of the AFC.
Regards,
Sadie-Anne,
Soprano 1 - American Festival Chorus
Singer since 1994 (4 years of age)
“Music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.” - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 - 5 December 1791)
And here's Dr. Craig Jessop:
P.S. Craig's about as tall as me! I'm five zero. Heh.
Tonight...or rather the night of November 15th, I had a marvelous experience but let me start at the beginning.
On August 27th, I auditioned to be part of the newly formed choir American Festival Chorus (formerly the Northern Utah Choral Society) and I have shamefully snagged from the AFC's website the "bio" on the Chorus:
"The American Festival Chorus and Orchestra was organized in the fall of 2008 as a community outreach program for the Department of Music at Utah State University. Dr. Craig Jessop was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor, with Dr. Cory Evans as Associate Director, and Christine Clark as Managing Director.
The Chorus is an all-volunteer, auditioned ensemble of some 250 talented singers who represent a diverse cross section of students, faculty, and staff at USU and choral artists from all walks of life within a 50-mile radius.
The Orchestra is a professional ensemble comprised of instrumentalists from the region including the members of the highly acclaimed Fry Street String Quartet of USU, members of the USU Music Faculty, professional musicians from the area, and outstanding USU music majors. Together, these ensembles are destined to become a dynamic force in the rich cultural climate of our community."
Craig Jessop is one of the greatest directors in the world and it is such a wonderful chance and privilege to be able to work with such a director as he. He's the former director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and he's what made that choir absolutely fantastic. My dad was a member of it for 17 years, a few years of it before Craig came on board and there's an incredible difference between the MTC before Craig and after Craig. He took the choir so far.
But...the MoTab's loss is our gain here in Cache Valley and I cannot get over how much I enjoy working with Craig and being part of the AFC.
Now, onto why this evening was such a marvelous experience. Tonight, after twelve weeks of intense rehearsal, the AFC debuted by performing the famed Mozart Requiem, one of the greatest pieces of music ever written and probably my favorite. It has long been a dream of mine to sing the Requiem and I finally got my chance this year...with Craig Jessop. I'm still floating on a sea of euphoria after the performance, marvelling at such an experience.
And it's not over! The AFC has adjourned for the rest of the year but will be meeting up again in January to begin rehearsing Beethoven's Choral Fantasy and Carmina Burana to be performed on March 28th, 2009. We will also be working on Beethoven's 9th Symphony (to be performed on April 25th, 2009.
The performance of the Requiem was recorded and AFC members will be able to order copies and I will be doing so. I will put up a sample track of the performance so you can all hear the choir if you so desire. I will also post the publicity photo that was taken last Sunday as soon as I can.
I will post randomly about my experiences with Craig probably and the performances of the AFC.
Regards,
Sadie-Anne,
Soprano 1 - American Festival Chorus
Singer since 1994 (4 years of age)
“Music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.” - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 - 5 December 1791)
And here's Dr. Craig Jessop:
P.S. Craig's about as tall as me! I'm five zero. Heh.