Department of Music

Come experience the beauty and drama of J.S. Bach's St. John Passion at 8pm on Saturday, April 16th as Michael Slon directs UVA's University Singers, guest soloists and professional orchestra in Old Cabell Hall on the historic lawn. Often described as one of the greatest Oratorios ever written the Singers rendition of the St. John Passion promises to deliver a dramatic and passionate evening of beautiful music.

First performed in 1724, the St. John Passion stands with Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and Mass in B minor as one of the finest choral-orchestral works ever written.  Filled with dramatic choruses and moving arias, the oratorio depicts the events of the passion of Christ as narrated in the gospel of St. John.  The performance will be led by UVa faculty conductor Michael Slon, and will feature professional orchestra, and soloists including David Newman (who has performed with Tafelmusik, the Portland Baroque Orchestra, and the Washington Bach Consort), and Scott Mello (who has performed with Apollo’s Fire, Bach Collegium San Diego, and American Bach Soloists.) In addition, several UVa University Singers alumni will return as soloists: soprano Martha Eason (a recent winner of a Midwest district Met Opera Competition), alto Barbara Hollinshead (well known to Washington D.C. audiences for her Bach performances), and bass-baritone Andrew O’Shanick, who has recently sung roles at Harvard and the Boston Conservatory.      

The University Singers is the premier mixed-voice choral ensemble at the University of Virginia, and recently gave acclaimed performances of Handel’s Messiah, Poulenc’s Gloria, Beethoven’s Symphony #9, and Verdi’s Requiem in Charlottesville.  In the past academic year, the group has also sung for Les Misérables creators Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil during their UVa residency, performed before 10,000 at the Kevin Spacey President’s Arts Speaker event, and taken a two-week concert tour of England, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Austria.  Founded in 1957, the group performs a cappella and accompanied choral literature ranging from chant to major choral-orchestral works, and the works of contemporary composers – including premieres of works by Stephen Paulus, Forrest Pierce, Judith Shatin, and Eric Whitacre.  Recent United States tours have take the group to Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Charleston, Chicago, Cincinnati, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Providence, and the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. 

In past years highlights have also included concerts and workshops with Bobby McFerrin and Meredith Monk, a performance for Hillary Clinton, frequent collaborations with the Charlottesville Symphony, including the popular Family Holiday Concerts, and a performance for the 2010 VMEA Conference.

Active as a conductor of choral, orchestral, and operatic repertoire, Michael Slon is currently Conductor of the University Singers, Chamber Singers, and a professor on the music faculty at the University of Virginia, where he also guest conducts the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia. He also serves as the Music Director of the Oratorio Society of Virginia.

Tickets are $15 for the general public, $13 for UVA Faculty and Staff, $5 for students and free for U.Va Students who reserve in advance. Tickets can be purchased at the Arts Box Office by calling 434.924.3376 or visiting www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu.

Old Cabell Hall is located on the south end of UVA's historic lawn, directly opposite the Rotunda.  (map) Parking is available in the central grounds parking garage on Emmet Street, in the C1 parking lot off McCormick Rd, and in the parking lots at the UVA Corner.  Handicap parking is available in the small parking lot adjacent to Bryan Hall.

For information on making a gift to the University Singers, you can also visit the Arts Box Office site, or http://giving.virginia.edu/universitysingers

All programs are subject to change.