Choral Union resonates
with town-gown harmony

Paul Head conducting a rehearsal

The University's Choral Union–a blend of more than 100 University and community voices–is alive and well and experiencing a renaissance this year.

"The Choral Union has an impressive past, and we wish to bring back the tradition of great choral music at Delaware," Paul Head, music, who directs the ensemble, said. "The performance of classical choral masterworks for voice and orchestra is a vital part of students' musical education and greatly enriches the musical cultural life of the entire community."

Originally established in 1979, the Choral Union has performed some of the world's best-known choral works. Over the years, it has joined forces with the Delaware Symphony to perform Handel's Messiah, Orff's Carmina Burana, Mozart's Requiem and Walton's Belshazzar's Feast.

The group has performed at the Lincoln Center, and it joined five other choruses in a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at Carnegie Hall. Of the group's several past directors, the longest term was held by Andrew Cottle, music, who directed it from 1981-1997.

The Choral Union now consists of a men's choir, a women's choir and Schola Cantorum, or literally, school choir, and the latter composed members from the campus and community.

The Schola Cantorum has more than 100 singers–music majors, nonmajors, faculty, staff and area residents, who share a love of singing.

Peter Vagenas, theatre, said, "A sense of 'ensemble,' family harmony, is at the heart of Choral Union's longevity, maintenance of excellence and success."

Richard and Nancy Whipple, community members from Newark, have sung with the Choral Union since 1981. "The Choral Union is exceptional, and we have loved singing with the group and working under its directors. The Choral Union has provided us with an opportunity to perform 'big works' with an orchestra, and it has been a wonderful experience," Nancy Whipple said.

Mary Helen Callahan, College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy, said the Choral Union has not only taught her a lot about singing and but also has made her a more educated listener. "I really enjoy choral music," she said, "and this is a wonderful opportunity to sing in a large group. The chorus has been professionally and skillfully directed and has been well run.

"We are a 'hot ticket,' and I encourage everyone to come to our performances," she said.

The music department's growing orchestral program also is working with the choral ensemble, so it is a win-win situation in terms of experience for both vocalists and instrumentalists, Head said.

To celebrate its recommitment and its history and to showcase its virtuosity, the Schola Cantorum is presenting a concert with the University Orchestra, entitled "Echoes of an Austrian Cathedral," at 8 p.m., Sunday, May 13, in the Loudis Recital Hall of the Amy du Pont Music Building. The cost is $6 for adults and $3 for students, and tickets are available at the Trabant University Center and Bob Carpenter Center box offices. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the development of choral music at UD.

The program will feature Vesperae Solennes de Confessore (Solemn Vespers) written by Mozart for a church in Salzburg. "It is a gem of repertoire music," Head said, as well as Te Deum by Anton Bruckner, " a very dramatic hymn of praise that is rich and colorful," he said.

Head, who joined the UD faculty in 1999 as director of choral studies, is a graduate of San Jose State University in California, received his master's degree from Westminster Choir College of Rider University and his doctorate from the University of Oklahoma. The coauthor of Case Studies in Musical Education, Head is president elect of the Delaware American Choral Directors Association.

–Neil Thomas

Photo by Duane Perry

Students sing out

UD's Department of Music has two vocal ensembles featuring students regardless of their majors: the University of Delaware Chorale, directed by Paul Head; and the University Singers, a women's choral ensemble, led by Nicole Clouser.

Along with the Choral Union, these two groups will present a Spring Choral Concert at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 22, in the Loudis Recital Hall of the Amy E. du Pont Music Building. The program will be varied and feature classical, Romantic and 20th century avant-garde music.

The cost is $6 for adults and $3 for students, and tickets are available at the Trabant University Center and Bob Carpenter Center box offices.

Proceeds from the concerts will support the development of choral music at UD.

–Sue Moncure