Department of Music

• Saturday, April 10, 2010
• Old Cabell Hall
• 8:00pm
• $15 General / $5 Students

The Virginia Women’s Chorus presents “A Tapestry of Sounds: weaving past and present”” as part of the first statewide celebration “MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts”. The concert takes place Saturday, April 10 at 8 p.m. in Cabell Hall Auditorium at the University of Virginia.

Conducted by Katherine (“KaeRenae”) Mitchell, this ensemble is celebrating its thirty-five year history with classical, gospel, jazz and contemporary music from around the world, including the island of Hispanola (modern day Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Germany, and Hungary. Music on the program includes classical selections by Schubert, Mendelssohn and Vivaldi as well as a contemporary jazz arrangement of Where is Love?, a folksong collection that is a tribute to the people of Haiti, and the chorus’ signature piece Simple Gifts.

The first half of the concert features the Virginia Women’s Chorus and almost fifty alumnae from across the nation, including California, Texas, New York, and Massachusetts. The massive 90-voice choir will be led by former conductors of the Women’s Chorus, including the founding conductor, Jim Dearing. During the intermission the audience will be treated to delightful music provided by Art Wheeler, piano, and Sam Scott, singer, including a moving rendition of the gospel song, I Heard Momma Pray One Day.

A newly re-formed mixed group, Noteworthy, will start the second half with Hide and Seek, written by Imogen Heap. The Virginia Belles follows with several selections. The Belles is the first women’s a cappella group at UVA, founded by KaeRenae Mitchell in 1977 as a select group of the UVA Women’s Chorus. The Virginia Women’s Chorus will finish the concert with selections ranging from classical to Mexican to an empowering gospel piece, Still I Rise. This song was chosen to symbolize the strength of the women’s chorus at the University of Virginia. In 1989, the Department of Music made the decision to no longer fund the single-sex choral groups and five years later, the Virginia Women’s Chorus arose as a contracted independent organization. The ensemble is affiliated with the music department but no longer receives funding from the department but has managed to survive and to continue providing audiences with superb music. The concert will conclude with Simple Gifts, with alumnae rejoining current members in song.

Tickets for the April 10 concert are $15 for adults, $5 for students and may be purchased at the Arts Box Office web site www.artsboxoffice.virginia./eduor by calling the Arts Box Office phone number (434) 924-3376 or in person at the Arts Box Office during their normal business hours. Tickets will also be available at the door. For more information, please contact KaeRenae Mitchell at 434.466-1462 or .