Performances infuse Homecoming with music

Choirs of the Valley Concert and choral reunion activities infuse Homecoming with music

Contact: Peter Wordelman | Professor of Music
541-962-3352 | pwordelm@eou.edu

October 10, 2012
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) – Homecoming weekend at EOU will kick-off this Thursday with the annual Choirs of the Valley Concert at 7 p.m. in McKenzie Theatre in Loso Hall. Admission is free with donations to the EOU Foundation accepted.

Featured groups will include the EOU Chamber Choir and Union County Children’s Choir conducted by Peter Wordelman, the EOU Women’s Choir and Grande Ronde Community Choir conducted by Michael Frasier, and the La Grande High School A Cappella Choir and Treble Choir conducted by Kevin Durfee.

“Union County has a rich choral history that includes singers of all ages and the ensembles performing for the concert will showcase this diverse singing population,” said Wordelman, a professor of music at EOU. “The performance will be varied and interesting with a distinct international flavor.”

Among the pieces selected for the Chamber Choir are “Past Life Melodies,” by Australian composer Sarah Hopkins, and “Balleilakka,” a piece from India by A.R. Rahman.

The Women’s Choir will perform the Japanese piece, “Akai Hana, Shiroi Hana” and a Venezuelan styled piece, “Yo Le Canto, Todo El Di,” by David L. Brunner.

The Community Choir will be performing “Lacrymosa” from “Requiem” by W.A. Mozart and “Homeward Bound,” a piece for four-hand piano and choir written by Mack Wilberg for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Choral reunion activities are also bringing more music to Homecoming this year. Anyone who sang at EOU under the direction of John Cobb, Peter Wordelman or Michael Frasier are invited to join in the full weekend of singing, socializing, reminiscing and looking forward to the future of choral music at Eastern.

A highlight of the festivities will be the formal announcement of the new Cobb, Frasier, Wordelman Choral Endowment Fund. The fund will help support, encourage and nurture future choral music students, while maintaining a sense of the singing community that has always been present in La Grande and at EOU.

Alumni are invited to a wine-tasting reception Friday evening from 6-8 at JC Woodworks at 1415 Jefferson Ave. Entertainment will be provided by classic guitar player and alumnus Carlton Oakes.

Rehearsal for the Alumni Choir Concert is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday in  Loso Hall, Room 123, with the public concert taking place at 7 p.m. in McKenzie Theatre. Alumni performers will be joined by the Chamber Choir and special guests Isaac and Emily Callender, original and traditional folk musicians and former EOU music students.

Following the concert, alumni are invited to meet at Ten Depot Street Restaurant for a reception with more music provided by “The Callenders.”

For information on other activities visit www.eou.edu/alumni/homecoming.