UW-La Crosse Concert Choir
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History of the Concert Choir
The UW-La Crosse Concert Choir, one of six student choral ensembles representing the UW-L Music Department, was founded in 1993 by its current conductor, Gary Kent Walth. The 58-voice ensemble consists of students representing many academic areas of the UW-L campus. While a majority of the Choir‘s members come from high schools in Wisconsin and Minnesota, the ensemble frequently includes international students, most recently from the nations of Germany, Japan, England, Senegal and Ghana. The Choir has been invited to perform at both state and regional American Choral Directors Association and Music Education National Conferences and has performed at festivals in Washington D. C. and in New York City. In 1996 the Concert Choir and Symphony Orchestra appeared in concerts in France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria. In 2002, the Concert Choir sang in churches and concert halls in England and Scotland, including concerts at the Grosvernor Chapel, London, Exeter College Chapel, Oxford and St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh. Highlights of the 2006 tour included performances in Epinal, France, at the Frankfurt Conservatory, and in the Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt, Germany. In May of 2009 the Choir will perform in Dublin, Cork City, Bantry, and at the Kyle Abbey, in Ireland.
Gary Kent Walth, the conductor of the Concert Choir is also the Director of Choral Music Studies at UW-L. A graduate of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, Walth received both a Masters of Music and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. An award-winning composer, Dr. Walth’s recently completed musical “If These Walls Could Talk” had its premiere performance, in a concert version, at the end of January. He has appeared as a guest conductor and lecturer throughout the United States and Canada, and most recently in England and Scotland.
Concert Choir officers 2008-2009
Aaron Hitz, (Antigo WI) President
Christine Walth, (Onalaska, WI) Vice President
Kim Becker, (Juda, WI) Secretary
Allyssa Dunn, (Sparta, WI) Treasurer
Nick Hartmann, (Brookfield, WI) Choir Manager
Stephanie Rupnow, (Neenah, WI) Past President
Membership in the Concert Choir
Auditions for the Choir are on the Sunday and Monday before Fall classes begin. Students register for the Choir before the auditions take place so that the rehearsal time is included in their class schedule. The auditions include the singing of an excerpt from the upcoming repertoire as well as sight singing. The audition process includes “call-backs” throughout the first week of classes.
2008-2009 Performances
Oct. 1 (Wed.) Oktoberfest Heritage Night, 5 PM, La Crosse Center
Oct. 18 (Sat.) Fall Choral Concerts, 7 & 8:30 PM, Annett RH
Nov. 5 (Weds.) New Music Festival, 7:30 PM, Annett RH
Dec. 12 & 13 (Fri. & Sat.) Festival of Carols, 7:30 PM, Valhalla
Feb. 20 (Fri.) Performance with Gaelic Storm, 8 PM, Valhalla
March 10, (Tues.) Winter Choral Concert, Annett RH
April 18, (Sat.) Concert Choir Chicken Q & Dinner Show, 7 PM English Lutheran Church Luther Room
May 5 (Tues.), Festival of Three Choirs, 7:30 PM Annett Recital Hall
May 18-28, Performance Tour in Ireland
Concert Choir Performances
The Concert Choir performs 6-10 times during the Fall semester including performances at the Fall Choral Concerts, Oktoberfest Heritage Night, Homecoming football game, New Music Festival, Festival of Carols, and at the Chancellor’s Holiday Luncheon. Performances during the Spring semester include the bi-annual Bach Concert, the mid-Winter Concert, the Pop’s Concerts and the Annual Three Choirs Festival. The Concert Choir also performs at local churches.
A major tour is scheduled every four years. The Choir completed a concert tour in France and Germany in May of 2006 which included concerts in Epinal and Plombieres, France and Frankfurt (Hochschule für Musik and Erfurt, (Augustinian Monastery), Germany. The next International tour is scheduled for 2009 at selected sites in Ireland. Regional tours at high schools, churches and concert halls are scheduled on years not including international travel.
Most recent Concert Choir repertoire
2008-2009 Concert Season (in progress)
If You Love Me Thomas Tallis
Lobet Den Herrn, Motet VI Johann Sebastian Bach
In Paradisum Edwin Fissinger
Danny Boy arr. Joseph Flummerfeldt
Set Down Servant arr. Robert Shaw
Joyful, Joyful arr. Mervyn Warren
Let The People Praise Thee Gary Kent Walth
Betelehemu Olatunji/Whalum
The Concert Choir performing at the 14th annual Festival of Carols, 12/3/06
WICKED ladies at Kirsten Nywall's Senior Recital
Pres. Abby Galstad gives instructions for the next event
Bass Nick Hartmann, Brookfield, gets his turn in the circle
A few Concert Choir members relaxing during a Fall bike ride
on the Mississippi
Some Concert Choir members studying Luther's 95 thesis at the
Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany