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The Arpad Darazs Singers will celebrate 20 years of performing with four concerts this holiday season, including a concert at the Rutledge Chapel at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11.
Started in 1987 after the death of University choral professor Arpad A. Darazs, the choir was organized by some of his former students to honor his memory and keep alive his desire "to provide group singing opportunities for everyone who has an interest in choral music and can carry a tune." The choir, which includes several Carolina faculty and staff, represents every walk of life--students, business professionals, homemakers, and retirees. Their common bonds are a love of music and a desire to share it.
Robert Neese, who was student of Darazs at Carolina, has been the conductor since the group's inception. Robert E. Jones, who holds a doctorate in piano pedagogy from the University, accompanies the singers.
During this special anniversary year, the choir was invited to perform at the South Carolina Day worship service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D. C., on July 15. The singers, along with several Episcopal choristers from South Carolina, presented eight a cappella selections as a choral prelude to the service. The selections included varied offerings, including O Vos Omnes, by Pablo Casals; Cherubim Song, by Bortniansky; and an arrangement by Andre Thomas of the spiritual Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning.
The Arpad Darazs Singers' 2007 holiday concert selections will include approximately 15 pieces, including sacred selections, Christmas carols, and popular songs of the season. The program will include All Breathing Life, Sing and Praise Ye the Lord, by J. S. Bach; There Shall a Star Come Out of Jacob, by Mendelssohn; An Irving Berlin Christmas; and Christmas Gift, by Jester Hairston. A setting of Ave Maria, by Jacob Arcadelt, a signature piece of the Singers, also will be included.
All concerts are free and open to the public. Contributions to defray expenses are accepted. Membership in the group is by open audition, held twice a year in August and January. For more information, go to the choir's Web site at www.ADSingers.org.
The holiday concert schedule is:
- 4 p.m. Dec. 9, Newberry Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1701 Main St., Newberry
- 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Rutledge Chapel, Horseshoe
- 4 p.m. Dec. 16, Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 1512 Blanding St., Columbia
- 6 p.m. Jan. 13, St. John's Episcopal Church, Parish Hall, 252 Dargan St., Florence.
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The Arpad Darazs Singers recently performed at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
