Tuesday, November 10, 2009

"Voices Raised in Song," the fall choral concert of the Westminster College Women's Chamber Ensemble, Women's Chorus, and Men's Chorus, is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Wallace Memorial Chapel. The concert is free and open to the public.

The Women's Chamber Ensemble is accompanied by Daniel Goffus, who will conduct the ensemble for Henry A. Alviani's "Chippewa Dream Song Medley" and Z. Randall Stroope's "The Poet Sings."

The Men's Chorus portion of the program includes Curtis Head's arrangement of "She's like the Swallow" and "On the Banks of the Don," with student conductor Montgomery Service. Paul Rardin's arrangement of "Hol' You Han'," a Jamaican folk song, features a quartet of Anthony D'Antonio, Derek Fredrickson, Daniel Rutkowski, and J.J. Yamnitzky, and soloists William Armentrout, Mitchell Barclay, Scott Braden, Zachary Drylie, Christian Heasley, Timothy Lane, Todd Slobodnyak, and Jordan Zabo. The Men's Chorus is accompanied by Lane McFarland.

The Women's Chorus program includes Richard Nance's "Set Me as a Seal," featuring Sarah Ortz on the French horn; Robert Sieving's "I Lift up My Eyes," with flutist Rebecca Schuster and soloist Katie Schroll; and Johann Adolf Hasse's "Benigne Fac Domine," conducted by Schroll. Emilie Stuart is the accompanist.

The combined choruses will conclude the concert with David Childs' "Where Your Bare Foot Walks" and Stephen Smith's arrangement of Leon Dubinsky's "We Rise Again," with Yamnitzky as soloist.

The women's groups are under the direction of Mr. Kris Harper, Westminster adjunct music faculty and 1981 Westminster graduate who earned a master's from Youngstown State University.

The Men's Chorus is under the direction of Dr. Robin Lind, associate professor of music and director of choral activities. Lind, who has been with Westminster since 2000, earned an undergraduate degree from the College of Idaho, master's from the University of Oregon, and Ph.D. from the University of Utah.

Contact Lind at (724) 946-7278 or e-mail lindra@westminster.edu for more information.

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is a top tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges. Westminster ranked third among liberal arts colleges in social mobility, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 371 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.