Choral Music At Clemson
Rockapella
September 4th, 2008 at 8:00 pm - The undisputed kings of contemporary pop a cappella, the sound of this five-man powerhouse is an inf Learn More...
Gleb Ivanov, pianist
September 11th, 2008 at 8:00 pm - Twenty-five year old Russian pianist Gleb Ivanov is “eerily like the ghost of Horowitz…His talent is Learn More...
Music in the Air VI
September 14th, 2008 at 5:00 pm - Bells and more will ring from the tower of Tillman Hall as university carillonneur Linda Dzuris pres Learn More...
Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway
September 16th, 2008 at 8:00 pm - 100 Years of Broadway is a revue featuring five of Broadway’s finest singers accompanied by an all-s Learn More...
The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley
September 26th, 2008 at 7:00 pm - Ten year old Stanley Lambchop makes it cool to be flat! Although an unfortunate encounter with a bu Learn More...
Meet Viva Voce
Viva Voce, Clemson University’s newest vocal ensemble, will present its premiere performance at the Brooks Center on Tuesday, November 13, at 8 p.m. The 16-member mixed-voice ensemble performs traditional a cappella choral music without a conductor. “Performing without a conductor requires exceptional artistry and vocal discipline,” said
Chris Mathews, the director of choral activities in the Department of Performing Arts. “The members of Viva Voce are outstanding singers with plenty of choral experience and well-defined voice control.”
For Performing Arts in Production Studies student Liz Hatch, singing in Viva Voce has unique challenges. “Timing is key in performing in a group such as this. Without a conductor marking entrances and cut-offs, our timing has to be perfect.”
John Ziska, a junior studying materials and ceramic engineering, agrees. “Vocal tone and quality have to be precise, and performing without the aid of someone in front of the group makes it even more challenging.”
“We are very fortunate to have such fine musicians who learn parts very quickly,” commented Mathews. “This allows us to spend the majority of rehearsal time on the nuances of a piece, as well as tone, blend, and breathing together, the key to unified entrances.”
For their debut concert, the ensemble is singing contrasting Latin sacred works, “Puer
natus est nobis,” (“A Child is Born to Us”) by Renaissance composer William Byrd and “Ave Maria” by contemporary Spanish composer Javier Busto. Other selections included the English folk song, “Turtle Dove,” as well as two African-American spirituals—“Go Down ’n the Valley” and “Pray All Night, All Day.”
“This is a dream come true,” said Colombia native Monica Muñoz-Torres, a Ph.D. candidate in genetics. “I sang professionally in a chamber ensemble before coming to Clemson to pursue my graduate degree. I was thrilled to learn about Viva Voce and was eager to be a part of the new ensemble.”
Viva Voce next performance takes place when the ensemble will perform with Clemson’s other choral groups on Thursday, April 10, at 8 p.m. in the Brooks Center.
