Music of another time in a place that takes you back

St. Thomas Aquinas Church
photo credit: huskercatholic.com

Once again, Lincoln Choral Artists brought together musicians from around the community to make an afternoon of musical memories. Featuring "music of and inspired by the Renaissance," guest performers were Dulces Voces, the instrumental ensemble, Lincoln Early Music Consort, and Dan Ahlin at the organ.

In the incredible space of the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, the choirs took on the music that has for centuries filled the great spaces of churches. LCA and Dulces Voces tackled a double choir piece, Victoria's Ave Maria. The afternoon was full of beautiful music surrounding the audience with an aural beauty to match the visual beauty of the church.

The lush harmonies of Eric Whitacre's Go Lovely Rose were a jump several hundred years to the future from most of the rest of the program. A few other pieces took us from one century to another, but the result was an afternoon that was a glimpse back in time--and a treat to see more of the talent brought together and the love for music that the wonderful Lincoln community has alive and well.

Orchestra and kids: constant commotion!

Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra (LSO) performed their fall Family Concert this afternoon at O'Donnell Auditorium on the Wesleyan Campus. Maestro Polochick became a lovable father figure of the orchestra as they went about introducing the instrument families to the lost dog, "Treble," actor T. Adam Goos.

For those who've never attended a Family Concert, it's preceded by crafts, photo booth, and instrument "petting zoo" (where kids can take turns playing different instruments). As you head in for the concert, kids receive their programs and a pack of crayons--they can color the picture on their programs and turn it in at the end of the concert for a chance to win a prize!

The concert never lasts more than an hour and yet it's full of a variety of classics and the fun interactions between the orchestra and the actor.

This performance kept the kids moving and learning rhythm, dynamics, conducting, low/high, and all the sections of the orchestra! Each section took turns introducing itself and playing "Linus and Lucy"--strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion!

A perfect introduction to the orchestra and the world of music and fun for all ages. Save the date for the next Family Concert with LSO on March 4th, 2018.

A captivating choral evening

The Glenn Korff School of Music offered a delightful evening of choral music featuring the All-Collegiate Choir, University Women's Chorale, and Varsity Men's Chorus. Despite the full program and number of performers--the concert lasted just over an hour and each work that was featured was sung with energy and enthusiasm even as the styles changed drastically.

The choir, soloists, and organ beautifully began the concert with Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb. The other choirs featured shorter works some with vibrant energy and rhythm and some with harmonies that set hearts soaring with some favorites being Svatba sung by the University Women's Chorale and Oba Se Je performed by the Varsity Men's Chorus with percussion by Dakota Mathew.

The youth of the choirs and the large number of students joining together to sing made it an evening to share in their youth and enthusiasm: You can listen and experience it as well HERE.

Nebraska Choirs Unite to Celebrate

Lincoln Choral Artists (LCA) finished their year with a final celebration of the 150th birthday of Nebraska.  Earlier in the choir year, LCA celebrated the sesquicentennial of Nebraska by collaborating with other Lincoln area choirs. This past Sunday, in O'Donnell auditorium on the Wesleyan campus, LCA was joined by singers from across Nebraska. The Heartland Singers of North Platte and the Grand Island City Singers.

Although the theme was "Sowing the Seeds of Music in Nebraska," it was clear from the participation of talented choirs from across the state that there are not only seeds, but many fruits of music in Nebraska!

The Bellissimo handbell choir of Lincoln also performed, a pleasant surprise on an otherwise choral concert, and the audience enjoyed the experience of seeing the talented performance of this community handbell choir.

The best pieces of the concert were the ones especially suited to the theme of Nebraska's celebration. The visiting choirs both performed works by John Rutter, with the North Platte choir's performance of "For the Beauty of the Earth," a most moving performance.

Two pieces were featured by Nebraska composers: "Nebraska Sky," the work of North Platte native, Kim Baxter, and "The Bee and the Frog," performed by LCA, by composer David von Kampen.

"Blow Prairie Winds," "Rattle on the Stove Pipe," "Song of Peace," performed by the bell choir, were other crowd pleasers that kept the Nebraska theme!

Although the concert was longer than many have the attention span for in this day and age, the massed vocal choir performances of "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Beautiful Nebraska/America the Beautiful," and "Praise to the Lord the Almighty" gave a great chance to see the collaboration of the many singers, conductors, pianists, and organist of the day.

Lincoln Choral Artists: Music High Above Lincoln

High above Lincoln in the Nebraska Club, the 20th floor of the US Bank building downtown, the Lincoln Choral Artists (LCA), a talented community choir under the direction of Jason Horner with Dennis Plutalov at the piano, took a little “break” from their usual repertoire and presented “Crooning over Lincoln.” Dinner, concert, and auction all to benefit the wonderful work of LCA in keeping choral music alive and well in our community. Throughout the 2016-2017 year, LCA is celebrating Nebraska for its sesquicentennial, with A Capitol City Choirs Concert in the fall, and the upcoming Sowing the Seeds of Music in Nebraska on May 7th at 3:00pm at O’Donnell Auditorium on the campus of Nebraska Wesleyan. 

The gala on Friday, March 3, featured music of the ‘40s and ‘50s, old familiar favorites of Frank Sinatra, the Andrew Sisters, Nat King Cole and more. The choir was challenged to learn different sounds and harmonies than exist in some of their more classical repertoire, but what was most evident throughout program wasn’t the hard work put into the music but the fun the performers were having!

They opened the evening with “Fly Me to the Moon”—memorized, an impressive feat. In between choral pieces, the audience was treated to solos or small groups, some performed by the evening’s M.C., Michael Tully, and some by members of the choir. Not only was the audience tapping their toes along to the tunes, but even when not singing, every member of the choir was engaged, smiling, and moving to the music! Music included "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Java Jive," and a break from the crooner-theme for a Bach Organ Fugue in a challenging choral arrangement!

Once again, LCA proves that a love for music is far from dead in the Lincoln community.

An Unlikely Combination: Percussion and Organ Duet

Dave Hall, UNL's Assistant Professor of Percussion and Jazz Studies, gave his percussion recital on Saturday evening. As usual with percussion recitals, the variety of sounds, styles, and instruments was fascinating and colorful. No one can fail to be impressed by the talent that goes into playing all the different kinds of percussive instruments.

The oldest piece of music on the program was composed in 2009, a composition by the performer, and the newest was written as recently as 2016. One delightful piece had the title "Azucar," or "sugar," and had a sweet and delicious sound as one would expect!

The highlight of the evening was, beyond a doubt, the grand finale which was a work composed by Kurt Knecht for Dave Hall and Christopher Marks, UNL's professor of organ. Featuring different percussion instruments for each movement, the work is a masterpiece of blending two instruments that one would not normally imagine working together--rhythms and harmonies highlighted one instrument or the other as they played both rousingly at times or peacefully. You can enjoy the performance (given earlier at Marks' recital) in the video below: