While you’re going about your normal weekend business tomorrow, the University of Dundee Choir will be more than 3,000 miles away in New York for a very special event.
The choir, which has been around since the founding of the university in 1968, has been invited to perform in Mass in Blue: The Music of Will Todd at the Big Apple’s Lincoln Center.
Graeme Stevenson, the group’s music director, explains: “The concert involves a large number of choirs coming together from all over the world, split into two groups, each doing half the programme. The other half of the chorus will be performing other works by Will Todd.
“We were invited by Distinguished Choirs International New York to take part after they became aware of our work with Will Todd,” he continues.
“We performed Mass in Blue by Mr Todd back in 2016 and he came to Dundee to do a workshop as we prepared for the concert. We then commissioned Mr Todd to write a Christmas carol for us to mark the University’s 50th anniversary in 2018. Our performance of his latest work, Passion Music, on March 24 in The Caird Hall was the Scottish premiere,” he says proudly.
For many years the choir was comprised of students and staff but today it’s made up of students, alumni and the wider community, and numbers around 60 singers. “The more the merrier,” smiles Graeme.
“Everyone is very excited – they loved doing Mass in Blue the first time and to be able to perform it in such a prestigious venue with other international choirs is a thrilling prospect,” he continues.
“They have sung in Notre Dame in Paris and St Vitus in Prague but this venue is further afield and it is a huge honour to have been asked to take part,” before revealing they had to go through an intensive audition process beforehand.
When they’re not jetting across the world, the choir performs throughout the year at concerts, as well as services and graduation ceremonies.
“They do a wide variety of works – often accompanied by the university orchestra – from traditional pieces like Mozart’s Requiem and Carmina Burana to modern world such as Eric Whitacre’s Godzilla eats Las Vegas,” says Graeme.
“At graduations we sing lighter works such as Mr Blue Sky and Top of the World. Usually we try to link these pieces up to illustrate the subjects graduating or honorary graduates. Sometimes they get it, sometimes we’re less successful!” he smiles.
Graeme has been working with the choir for 25 years and enjoys the camaraderie and community spirit within the choir.
“We work hard in rehearsals, but there is a relaxed atmosphere which makes them an enjoyable bunch to conduct,” he says.
And for anyone who’s interested in joining, there’s more good news.
“There are no auditions – a love of singing is the only necessary requirement,” says Graeme.
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