This last weekend the wonderful choral program at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities embarked on their first tour of Minnesota.
This program is well-known for its unique contribution to choral music through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative programming, as well as by the unique fact that it is co-conducted by Professors Kathy Romey and Matt Mehaffey, a very unusual model indeed.
This tour aligned well with the ensemble's dedication to collaboration by traveling all across Minnesota, visiting high schools in Osseo, Maple Grove, and Saint Michael.
In addition to performing their own program, the ensemble was accompanied by three voice faculty members, doctoral and masters vocal students, and a doctoral conducting student. With these extra hands, ears, and voices the ensemble offered a wide array of personal lessons, workshops, master classes, and collaborative music making.
Taking advantage of the rich Minnesota choral tradition, the University of Minnesota Choir provided a truly unique tour experience this past weekend.
We were able to catch up with conductors Kathy Romey and Matt Mehaffey while they were on tour. Listen to our feature with their comments about the choral program at the University, the unique aspects of this tour, and a few great experiences along the road.
Their comments are accompanied by excerpts of two pieces that were featured on their tour - Morten Lauridsen's "Contre qui, rose," from his Les Chansons des Roses and Benjamin Britten's The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard.
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