(Posted November 2, 2009)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Juniata Concert Choir usually sticks with the choral basics -- classical and spiritual selections -- but for its fall concert the ensemble is branching out into science fiction and "cowboy" songs, along with some tried-and-true sacred and secular selections. The concert is at 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8 in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts.

The concert is free and open to the public. The Juniata Concert Choir is directed by Russell Shelley, Alma Stine Heckler Professor of Music at Juniata.

One of the highlights of the concert's first half will be four songs performed by the choir, accompanied by Anne Staudenmaier playing French horn.

One of the highlights of the concert's first half will be four songs performed by the choir, accompanied by Anne Staudenmaier playing French horn. Staudenmaier is a senior from Harrisburg, Pa. Lisa McNally will accompany the ensemble on piano on all selections.

The choir will perform "Psalm 23," "Amor Que Une Con," "Alleluia" and Heart We Will Forget Him" accompanied by Staudenmaier. The senior won the Wind Symphony Concerto Competition as a freshman.

Several other students and local musicians will perform with the group, including cellist Erin Burt, a junior from Spring, Texas, and oboist Renee Ouellette, on the selection "Ani ma'amin."

The choir will sing "Bonny Portmore" and "Duel of the Fates," a vocal arrangement from the "Star Wars" prequel series (the song is popularly known as "the Darth Maul theme").

The choir will focus most of the concert on folk music, such as "The Gartan Mother's Lullaby," accompanied by guest artist Diane Gold-Toulsen on flute. In addition, the ensemble will sing "Stars I Shall Find," "Omnia Sol," "The Pasture" and "Red River Valley," the classic "cowboy song" performed by such country artists as Marty Robbins and the Sons of the Pioneers. "Red River Valley" features oboist Ouellette.

The concert will also feature vocal performances of "There is a Garden in Her Face," an arrangement of a poem by Thomas Campion and "Remember, O Thou Man," based on a poem by Thomas Ravenscroft. The Choir also will sing "Alles Hat Seine Zeit" by Franz Joseph Haydn.

The Juniata Concert Choir is one of three choirs performing at the college. The 50-person choir tours every spring semester, focusing its program on historical sacred music. Juniata choirs have performed at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. The choir also tours internationally almost every year. Past tours have taken the ensemble to Trinidad and, Mexico, and Brazil. This year's spring tour is to Guatemala.


Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.