Amsterdam, Cologne, Trier, Luxembourg and Paris hear our prestigious choir
When the USC Concert Choir goes on a tour abroad, director of choral studies Larry Wyatt chooses selections that have a connection to each of the countries visited as well as music from our American composers to introduce them to the host audience. The Choir travels to Europe December 29 through January 8, performing in Amsterdam, Trier Germany, Luxembourg and Paris. Some of the works performed are reprises of the USC Concert Choirs’ highly popular Christmas Concerts in Columbia, SC, in early December.
Dr. Wyatt says “Planning a choral concert of approximately 15 compositions is much like planning a nutritious and enjoyable meal. The program itself needs coherency and diversity. Coherency can be achieved by planning around a theme, diversity can be achieved by selecting contrasting musical selections. This contrast can be achieved by selecting works from various historical periods and countries of varying tempi, textures etc. In the academic community, the chosen materials should provide the student singers with the opportunity to increase their vocal and reading skills while affording the opportunity to learn about the historical and geographical context of the music.”
Enhancing the experience of scheduled performances, 43 student singers and 20 loyal community friends, plan to visit Versailles Palace and Gardens, Louvre Museum, Cathedral of Notre Dame, and Chartres Cathedral where they hope to sing informally.
The USC Concert Choir is our most select choral ensemble and requires an audition to participate. It achieved international recognition under the direction of the late Árpád Darázs and continues the tradition of excellence under the direction of Larry Wyatt.
Performances
Jan. 1– Church of Our Lady: Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk is a Syriac Orthodox church in the center of Amsterdam, used by Syriac Orthodox community and the Roman Catholic of Opus Dei. Emphasis is placed on the hearing of confessions and of choral liturgy. The building has the Dutch status of a Rijksmonument.
Jan. 2 – Cologne Cathedral: The Choir performs informally at the noon prayer celebration.
Jan. 2 – St. Matthias' Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The abbey church, a Romanesque basilica, is a renowned place of pilgrimage because of the tomb of Saint Matthias. This evening the Choir performs a formal concert at the Abbey.
Jan. 3 – This evening the Choir performs a formal concert at Église Protestante du Luxembourg.
Jan. 6 – American Cathedral in Paris. The Choir performs as part of the Cathedral’s very popular winter concert series.