Press Release: Fall 2005 Concert

OCT. 20, UAB CHOIRS PRESENT FIRST CONCERT IN OUTSTANDING SEASON

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) choirs invite all music lovers to an evening of world-class choral music at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 20, at the Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. S. Admission is free. Call 205-934-7376 for more information.

Three choirs from the UAB Department of Music will present the concert: the UAB Concert Choir and UAB Women’s Chorale, directed by Philip Copeland, D.M.A., and the UAB Chamber Singers, directed by Jeff Reynolds, D.M.A. On the program are selections featuring mostly modern music, including the Duruflé’s Quatre Motets and Halsey Stevens’ “Magnificat,” said Copeland, director of UAB choral activities.

“All of the music is incredible,” Copeland said. “We’ll be singing some of the finest choral works written by the world’s best composers.” Much of the music for the evening will be presented by the UAB Concert Choir in preparation for their concert at the American Choral Directors Association Southern Division Convention in February 2006. Directors of participating choirs must submit three years’ worth of recordings to be considered for the performance.

“It is an honor to be invited to perform at a concert of America’s choral directors,” Copeland said. It is the first time any music ensemble from UAB has been invited to perform at a national convention.

The choir returned in May from their first tour of France, where they performed in historic Notre Dame Cathedral and participated in the 34th annual Florilege Vocal de Tours in Tours. The choir won two awards at the competition: the Prix Du Ministère de La Culture, an award for best interpretation of a French choral work, and shared the top award in the Mixed Choirs Category. The UAB Concert Choir, with the Birmingham Concert Chorale, will present Handel’s “Messiah” in December and Mozart’s “Solemn Vespers” in May at New York’s world-famous Carnegie Hall.

- www.uab.edu/news -