International Music Highlights Choral Celebration

Join the Orchestra of South= ern Utah and six local choirs for an international musical journey on Saturday, Sept. 25, 7:30 PM, in the Heritage Center, 105 N. 100 E., Cedar City. Guest clinician Paul A. Smith cond= ucts the orchestra and 250 voices in music from around the world, including Braz= il, China, Japan, Malaysia, and America. The suggested donation is $5.

This Choral Celebration is = made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. This “Challenge America: Com= munity Arts Development” NEA grant was the only one awarded in the state of = Utah for this year. It provides fo= r a nationally prominent clinician to work with area choirs during the week lea= ding up to the concert, as well as conducting several pieces in the concert. Matching sponsors are the Cedar Ci= ty Corporation, the Sterling and Shelli Gardner Foundation, and Kent and Cherie Myers.

Mr. Smith is a very active = guest conductor and clinician. Some= of his engagements include conducting the World Youth Choir in Spain, Carnegie Hall performances, and the National Convention of the American Choral Direc= tors Association in New York City. He also has toured with such notable American ensembles as the Roger Wagner and William Hall Chorales. He cur= rently teaches at California State University, Northridge.

Musical selections range fr= om a Brazilian rain forest piece to “I Hear America Singing” by Andre Thomas. The concert begins wi= th Xun Sun conducting the Orchestra of Southern Utah in an overture from China, followed by each choir showcasing individual pieces and a grand finale of a= ll participating groups joining together to conclude the evening.

Participating choirs and di= rectors are Master Singers, directed by Dr. James Harrison; Southern Utah University OPUS Chamber Choir, directed by Dr. Bart Shanklin; SUU Concert Choir, direc= ted by Dr. Grace St. Pierre; Canyon View High Madrigals and Colla Voce, directe= d by Adrianne Tawa; Cedar High Madrigals, directed by Mark Ganowsky; and Parowan High Madrigals, directed by Arlene Olcott.

Other pieces from around the world that will be performed include “Tres Cantos Nativos” (Brazil) by Marcos Leit= e, “Discovery” (America) by Edvard Grieg, “Joban Tanko Bushi” (J= apan) arranged by Wendy B. Stuart, “Ain’t Got Time to Die,” (traditional Spiritual), arranged by Hall Johnson, and “KpanlongoR= 21; (West Africa) arranged by Derek Bermel.&nb= sp;

This event promises to be a= n exciting musical adventure for Cedar City. For further information, visit www.orchestraofsouthernutah.org or contact OSU Manager, Marlo Ihler, at (435) 867-8501