UVA University Singers Masterclass with Eric Whitacre
In continuing with a series of guest speakers this semester, the UVA University Singers were proud to welcome world-renowned composer Eric Whitacre to class Wednesday, February 24th. The University Singers have performed many of Mr. Whitacre’s pieces through the years, and are also part of a consortium of choirs who have commissioned work from him. Most recently, the ensemble performed “little man in a hurry” (on a text by e.e. cummings) and “Water Night” (text by Octavio Paz) on our Spring 2019 tour to the Northeast U.S. and Canada.
The conversation, moderated by Prof. Michael Slon and featuring a significant number of student questions, was as Mr. Whitacre put it, “food for the soul,” covering wide-ranging topics from compositional process, text setting and world-wide virtual choirs, to the transformative and emotional arc of a single piece. While many of the singers have been inspired by his music for years, having the chance to speak with him about composition and his reverence for interdisciplinary intersections in the arts was truly a highlight. The conversation was one for the University Singers’ history books, and the students will be keeping Mr. Whitacre’s sage advice in mind in pursuing musical excellence.
Other guest speakers since the pandemic started have included Arreon Harley-Emerson speaking on African-American choral music, and composer Jake Runestad discussing his music, and the University Singers plan to host several additional guests this spring. Thanks again to the University Singers alumni and special guests who joined us for this talk. And thank you so much to Eric Whitacre, for taking the time to be with our UVA music students and faculty, and for the music.
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Eric Whitacre began our time together with a brief lecture on his choral pieces “A Boy and A Girl” and “Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine.” The latter was written for the 2001 Brock Commission, for the American Choral Directors Association.
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In addition to his lecture, Mr. Whitacre also fielded questions from current U-Singers. Pictured here is Molly Childers, CLAS ‘21, posing her question about his adapted piece “Sleep.”
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Pictured here are some of the guests in attendance, including current U-Singers, alumni of the group, and special guests from the Music Department and arts community.
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Pictured here are some of the guests in attendance, including current U-Singers, alumni of the group, and special guests from the Music Department and arts community.
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