Department of Music

The Virginia Women’s Chorus presents “Phoenix Rising: a celebration of 40 years of women and music” on Saturday, April 11 at 4 p.m. in Old Cabell Hall Auditorium at the University of Virginia.

Conducted by Katherine (“KaeRenae”) Mitchell, this ensemble is celebrating its forty-year history with classical, jazz and contemporary music from around the world, including the island of Hispanola (modern day Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Germany, and Norway. Music on the program includes classical selections by Schubert, Mendelssohn and Duruflé. The concert will begin with a contemporary and contemplative arrangement of the spiritual This Little Light of Mine in honor and memory of Jim Dearing, founding conductor of the Chorus.

The first half of the concert features the alumnae from across the nation, including California, Texas, New York, and Massachusetts, along with the current Virginia Women’s Chorus members. Former conductor of the Chorus, Libby Moore Slade, will help lead the 90-voice choir. The Virginia Belles will conclude the first half with several entertaining selections. The Belles is the oldest female 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 present the premiere performance on the East Coast of Phoenix Rising by Z. Randall Stroope. Modern folklore utilizes this magnificent mythic creature as a symbol of renewal and rebirth. Indeed, the Chorus is a phoenix rising. In 1989, the Department of Music made the decision to no longer fund the single-sex choral groups, and the Chorus disbanded because of financial reasons. Five years later, through the vision and concerted efforts of several female students, 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 survived and continues to provide audiences with superb music.

Special guest artist, John Petrucelli, tenor saxophone, will improvise during the expansive contemporary selection Evening Prayer by Ola Gjeilo. Percussion and piano will enliven the women’s music as well.  The Chorus will sing several contemporary a cappella selections in true surround sound and demonstrate the beauty of their angelic voices, for which they are well known. The concert will conclude with the alumnae rejoining current members in singing the Chorus’ signature song, Simple Gifts.

Tickets for the April 11 concert are $15 for adults, $5 for students and may be purchased at the Arts Box Office web site www.artsboxoffice.virginia./edu or 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 visit our website www.virginiawomenschorus.org  and our FB page, or email uva.vwc@gmail.com.

This event is presented by an affiliated group.  To see all the groups affiliated with the McIntire Department of Music please visit our affiliation webpage.