April 18, 2006

SOU Chamber Choir visits Ashland’s sister city Guanajuato

University’s music department will celebrate Mozart in May

Staff reports

The SOU Chamber Choir was recently invited by University of Guanajuato to perform in and around Ashland’s sister city, Guanajuato, Mexico, from March 29 to April 4 as part of Guanajuato’s city-wide cultural fair.

The 36-voice Chamber Choir performed twice at the Pinocoteca of the Templo de la Compania in Guanajuato. Full evening concerts were also performed in Yurriria, Celaya and Penjamo.

The performance’s program included traditional Mexican folk-music, selections from Mozart’s “Mass in c minor,” settings of Lorca poetry by Portland composer Craig Kingsbury, as well as two movements from Thomas Victoria’s “Missa Gaudeamus.” As the city of Guanajuato dates back to Spanish colonial times, and it is known that Victoria’s music was popular in the new world, the choir also had the opportunity to perform music in a cathedral that may well have heard it long before — during the late 16th century.

“The students had a wonderful, life-changing experience and were so grateful for the opportunity for international travel and exchange” said Paul French, director of the SOU Chamber Choir. In addition to the concerts, Fredna Grimland and the Music Education students taught classes to Mexican school children. The visit corresponded with a local arts festival.

“The festival is huge and involves theatre, music, art, and all sort of cultural events” said French.

The trip didn’t just benefit the music department. Peter Nordquist, who is not only a member of the Chamber Choir but a computer science professor as well, had an opportunity to meet with engineering faculty from the Guanajuato University system. In their time together Nordquist and these engineering faculty members were able to discuss research regarding the prediction of the flow of rainwater runoff and the programming of new software to test the acoustical response in speakers.

“It was a very productive visit,” said Nordquist. “We indeed had a great time and sang in some wonderful venues for appreciative audiences”

Transportation costs for the trip were paid for largely out of Education Activities Advisory Committee student fee money. EAAC awarded the Department of Music $20,000 last year for student travel and the Department of Music voted to award the entire amount to the Chamber Choir. The Department of Music is deeply grateful to SOU’s student leadership for providing this exciting opportunity to the Chamber Choir. Expenses in Guanajuato were covered by the University of Guanajuato who housed the group at the Holiday Inn Express, Guanajuato, as well as covering all the group’s meals, providing transportation to the concert sites, and providing a translator. Additional funding came from the SOU Department of Music and $2,000 from Jackson Travel.

The Music Department’s quarter-long celebration of Mozart’s birth will culminate May 6 and 7 when Chamber Choir, Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, soloists, and full orchestra will perform the Northwest premiere of Robert Levin’s new edition of Mozart’s majestic “Mass in c minor.”

Tickets and season passes may be purchased at the Music Box Office prior to the performance or by calling 552-6101. For more information, please visit Southern Oregon University Music Department’s Web site at www.sou.edu/music.