The UVA University Singers, the University of Virginia’s flagship choral ensemble, will take its first international tour in ten years, appearing in concert in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from May 19–29th. The ensemble will present a program of a cappella and accompanied works featuring composers from all three countries (Pärt, Ešenvalds, and Augustinas), along with works by Americans Whitacre, Runestad, Ben Folds, as well as spirituals, folk songs, and traditional Appalachian music. Led by UVA faculty conductor Michael Slon, the Singers will perform in Tallinn, Tartu, Riga, Kaunas, and Vilnius – and also enjoy cultural exchanges and a master class with distinguished composer Ēriks Ešenvalds, who joined the chorus here for a residency in 2024. In addition, the Riga concert will feature a repeat performance of the Mozart Requiem, with local orchestra and soloists Martha Eason (a U–Singers alum now singing professionally in Germany), Latvian mezzo Agneta Otaņķe, and James Good and Jack Siegel – both current UVA singers. University of Virginia alumni in attendance will also be able to join the Singers in the traditional UVA songs. For more info visit: http://music.virginia.edu/usingers | https://usingers.virginia.edu
The University Singers is the University of Virginia’s flagship choral ensemble, heard by thousands each season in performances of a cappella and accompanied choral repertoire, including major works with orchestra. In 2017, the group joined the Charlottesville Symphony on the steps of the Rotunda to perform for UVA’s Bicentennial Launch Celebration, before an estimated crowd of 20,000. In recent years, the Singers have also sung for Les Misérables creators Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil during their UVA residencies, sung for the 2016 UVA Holiday greeting which received more than 400,000 views on social media, given the regional premiere of Bernstein’s Mass as part of 2018 Bernstein centennial celebrations, and toured the U.S and England, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Austria. During the pandemic, they continued to present virtual performances, and hosted online master classes with Eric Whitacre, Alice Parker, and other choral luminaries, and since have returned to live singing with: performances for President Ryan’s Arts on the Hill series, and of Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard; the Rachmaninoff Vespers with the Oratorio Society of Virginia, as well as collaborations with the Charlottesville Symphony; a National Anthem performance for the Washington Nationals, and the North American premiere of Ešenvalds St. Luke Passion with the composer in residence. The spring 2023 season also featured the “Blue Ridge to the Big Apple” concert tour, and the 2024–25 season brings performances of the Mozart Requiem, collaborations with the Charlottesville Symphony including the beloved Family Holiday Concerts, a performance for the Virginia All–State festival, and an international tour.
Students in the University Singers come from UVA’s undergraduate schools, including Arts and Sciences, Education, Batten, Nursing, and Engineering, as well as several of the graduate and professional schools. While approximately 20% are music majors, the ensemble is open to any student by audition, and is a for-credit curricular class. Together, members enjoy an esprit de corps arising from the pursuit of musical excellence, and the camaraderie the singers develop offstage.
The complete tour itinerary follows. Most concerts are free and open to the public; more information about reserving tickets will be provided as available.
For more info visit: http://music.virginia.edu/usingers | https://usingers.virginia.edu
UVA University Singers 2025 International Concert Tour:
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Concert, 7:00 pm
Tallinn, Estonia: Kaarli Church
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Concert, 5:30 pm
Tartu, Estonia: St. John’s Church
Saturday, May 24, 2025
Masterclass with Ēriks Ešenvalds
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Concert, 7:00 pm
Riga, Latvia: St. John’s Church
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Concert, 7:00 pm
Kaunas, Lithuania: St. George the Martyr Church
Wednesday, May 28, 2025:
Concert, 7:00 pm
Vilnius, Lithuania: St. Francis and St. Bernard Church