Clemson University Symphonic Band

November 23rd, 2009 at 8:00 pm - As the top auditioned group of wind and percussion musicians at Clemson University, the Symphonic Ba Learn More...

Free (no ticket required)

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Clemson University Choral Ensembles

December 1st, 2009 at 8:00 pm - The Department of Performing Arts introduces its new choral director, Justin Durham, in a program of Learn More...

$8 adults/$5 students (general seating)

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Clemson University Symphony Orchestra

December 3rd, 2009 at 8:00 pm - Popular orchestral hits fill this winter program, from the “Waltz” and “Polonaise” of Tchaikovsky’s Learn More...

$5 adults/students free (general seating)

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The Spirit of Christmas

December 8th, 2009 at 8:00 pm - The Spirit of Christmas takes you on a magical journey to a winter wonderland of fun and festive che Learn More...

$30 adults/$20 students

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Tony DeSare, vocalist

January 14th, 2010 at 8:00 pm - Singer, pianist, and songwriter Tony DeSare has earned critical acclaim for his performances at the Learn More...

$20 adults/$10 students

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Clemson University Choral Ensembles

December 1st, 2009 at 8:00 pm

The Department of Performing Arts introduces its new choral director, Justin Durham, in a program of eclectic vocal music.

Press Release

Justin Durham, Clemson University’s new director of choral activities, will make his conducting debut at this concert. Durham will lead the university men’s and women’s glee, as well as two other elite singing groups in a concert featuring a wide variety of choral works, including some holiday selections.

Durham, who is completing his first semester as head of the choral program, is looking forward to conducting on the Brooks Center stage for the first time. “Both the students and I are excited to showcase what we’ve rehearsed all semester,” he said.

The Clemson University Women’s Glee is set to perform “Alleluia” written by Paul Basler. The work features percussion and French horn accompaniment. The women will also sing an arrangement of Georg Philipp Telemann’s “I Want to Praise the Lord All of My Life.”

In addition, they will offer a tongue-in-cheek rendition of a Dear John letter entitled, “Dear John, Dear John (Punctuated by Love?)” “The song features two movements of identical text with completely different connotations based on where the choir places the punctuation marks,” said Durham. “The first movement is ‘Spoken Adoringly’ and the second movement is ‘Spoken Bitterly.’”

During their portion of the program, The Clemson University Men’s Glee, the university’s oldest music organization, will sing standards from the men’s choir repertoire, including “Do You Fear the Wind?” by Leland B. Sateran, “The Morning Trumpet” arranged by Michael Richardson, and an all-male rendition of Aaron Copeland’s “Zion’s Walls.”

The men’s holiday selections include the familiar German song “O Tannenbaum,” and Oh! Christmas Tree???,” a funny arrangement with the traditional melody poking fun at the idea of singing to a Christmas tree. Preceding this arrangement, the men’s glee will sing the traditional version so well known and loved.

The men will also perform an African holiday carol. “‘Betelehemu’ is a traditional Nigerian Christmas song with percussion,” explained Durham.

Viva Voce, an a cappella choir that performs without conductor, will sing selections from the early vocal repertoire, including English motets by William Byrd and Thomas Tallis. In addition, the ensemble will sing Claudio Monteverdi’s “Si ch’io vorrei morire” (Yes, I would want to die) “Contre Qui Rose” (Against whom, Rose) by Morten Lauridsen, and “Sweet Singing Amarills” by Luca Marenzio. “These three selections showcase the development of the madrigal from its height during the Renaissance through today,” Durham said.

Viva Voce finishes their portion of the concert with a rousing arrangement of the traditional African-American spiritual “Every Time I Feel the Spirit” by Moses Hogan featuring four soloists.

For the balance of the concert, the Clemson University Singers, Clemson’s premier singing group, will sing a varied program, including a 20th-century pairing of “Songs of Darkness and Light” in which the darkness of the night is set to music by Max Reger (1873-1916), a progressive early modernist German composer. “‘Nachtlied’ is a highly chromatic composition that contains unexpected chord progressions that illustrate the fear of the unknown and a plea for protection,” said Durham. “While Eric Whitacre’s ‘Lux Aurumque’ features thick, brilliant chord clusters depicting the warmth of pure light as the music anticipates the birth of the infant Jesus.”

For their final selections, the Clemson University Singers present music from around the world. “The ensemble will sing music from Venezuela, Sudan, and Indonesia,” Durham said.

An award-winning choral conductor, Durham holds music degrees from Murray State University. He is currently completing the requirements for a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University.

For seven years, Durham taught high school choirs, Advance Placement Music Theory, and Music Appreciation in Northern Kentucky. Choirs under his direction performed at the Kentucky Music Educators Association state convention and the Kentucky State School Board Association convention. His choirs have toured throughout the United States, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, to much acclaim.

Durham has served as the choral chairman and president-elect of the Northern Kentucky district of the Kentucky Music Educators Association. For four years, he was a repertoire and standards chairman of the Kentucky American Choral Directors Association.

In 2004, he received “The Northern Kentucky Post” Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching and was honored as the Kentucky Music Educators Association High School Music Teacher of the Year.

Among his favorite works from the choral repertoire are “Ein deutches Requiem” by Johannes Brahms, “War Requiem” by Benjamin Britten, any a number of cantatas by J. S. Bach, in addition to numerous Renaissance motets. “These are pretty high on my list,” he said, “but its hard not to keep adding.”

His overall goal for the Clemson choral program is improving individual musicianship within the ensembles. “I want to increase the singers’ sense of ownership in the program. Music is most exciting when it is the result of a collaborative effort,” Durham said. “It is so wonderful to work with such bright and talented singers. I’m looking forward to exploring their potential!”

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