CMU Chamber Choir and Women’s Choir Concert

WHAT: CMU CHAMBER CHOIR AND WOMEN’S CHOIR
WHERE: Moss Performing Arts Center Recital Hall
WHEN: Tuesday, April 29; 7:30 pm
ADMISSION: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 students
INFORMATION: Box Office at 970-248-1604

CMU Choir Director to hang up her baton after 25 years

On Tuesday, April 29th, at 7:30pm, in the beautiful CMU Moss Performing Arts
Recital Hall, CMU Women's Choir, Carol Ann Niles, director, and CMU Chamber
Choir, Dr. Monte Atkinson, director, will present a dynamic combined Spring
Concert. After having founded Women's Choir 25 years ago and served continuously
as its conductor, Mrs. Niles will "hang up her baton" and step down as
conductor of CMU Women's Choir after this concert. She will continue to teach
voice for the university. A public reception following the concert will be in
her honor.

Mrs. Niles and Women's Choir will present two Latin American pieces with guitar
that will begin the program with a rhythmic flavor. The featured piece for this
choir will be "The American Mass" by Ron Kean, which weaves African American
Spirituals and Hymn tunes in with the traditional Latin Mass format. They will
also present a full medley from "Les Miserables."

The Chamber Choir, in its 29th year since being founded by Dr. Atkinson, will
perform a special program of spring masterworks. Their program
includes Poulenc's gorgeous “Lenten motet Vinea mea electa,” paired with
American composer Norman Dinerstein's monumental “When David Heard,” both
CMU premieres. Two stunning spring works feature Misty Sothers on piano with
Chamber Choir: Debussy's “We Sing to Spring” for women's voices, joined by
Women Choir singers, and Benjamin Britten's extended work for the men of
Chamber Choir, “The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard.” “Ask the
Watchman,” a setting of two Sea Island Spirituals for choir, baritone
soloist, piano and percussion round out Chamber Choir's performance.

Mrs. Niles will conduct the two choirs combined for the finale, “Irish
Blessing,” composed by new British composer Philip Stopford. Audience members
are invited to stay afterwards for reception in the lobby.

Tickets are available at the box office by calling 970-248-1604.