Contribute to Lincoln's own Choral Continuum

Lincoln Choral Artists are a wonderful group of dedicated singers on the Lincoln choral scene--and their annual fundraiser is taking place on Sunday, March 4, at 4:00pm. LCA concerts feature themes varying from this season's Retrospective - Music of and Inspired by the Renaissance to last year's Sowing the Seeds of Music in Nebraska. It's clear that LCA does a great deal not only with their own music but by bringing other artists and ensembles together.

This year's fundraiser continues the season's theme of A Choral Continuum, this time with Music that Envisions the Future, as LCA President, Curt Butler shared with LincolnCMN:

Sunday's presentation is planned to be a one-of-a-kind concert event, along with a fund-raiser to enhance LCA's ongoing ability to promote the arts. The repertoire for this concert event moves from the somewhat dark lyrics of Genesis' "In the Air Tonight" (when do you ever get to hear a choral performance of Phil Collins?) and Toto's "Africa," into the contemplative "MLK" by U2, "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen and on to the uplifting "Make Them Hear You" from the musical Ragtime, and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Paul Simon. Also in the mix is an Eric Whitacre EDM piece with multimedia and chorus. Featured guests are also joining the fun. Every bit of it is destined to be a musical highlight!

Jason Horner, choral director, says that what makes LCA special is that it "brings some of the best singers and talented community members together to create unique choral experiences...we are made up of a diversity of people that each offer their own gifts to create excellent music." Horner says highlights of Sunday's show include "special guests UNL's Boots and Cats, an all female vocal pop group."

Both Horner and Butler agree that one of the best memories they have with LCA was this season's fall concert which was the Retrospective portion of the Choral Continuum featuring guest ensembles Dulces Voces and the Early Music Consort. Horner shared that: "It was so incredible to sing music in what music scholars think is the original performance setting, with period instruments, and multiple choirs singing across the gulf of a church sanctuary. The setting was gorgeous at St. Thomas Aquinas on the UNL campus. The music was thrilling!" while Butler agreed especially with the location being "a beautiful space!"

Horner explains the idea behind the 2017/2018 season theme of A Choral Continuum, it "uses the idea of time and space to have a conversation of how we observe and perform choral music in the world." Having looked to the past in the fall, for the fundraiser show, "we are looking to the future." Some ways to envision the future are by "using video and audio tracks to tell stories as well as engage the audience in many ways with food, a silent auction, and an opportunity to dance." Of course, even no one would want to miss the final part of the Choral Continuum taking place in April, "we will join forces with Abendmusik and the Nebraska Brass Band to perform music that features music about music and offers the opportunity to the audience to see whats' happening in the present with community music organizations.

Butler loves that LCA "represents a multi-generational cross section of Lincoln and surrounding area singers who all share the same passion -- to encourage promotion of the arts, and to participate in the presentation of beautiful, meaningful musical experiences. To feed the soul!" 

Enjoy and support the work of all those who sing and work behind the scenes in LCA this Sunday at their fundraiser by buying tickets here and keep in mind that, as Butler sums it up:

 ". . . rhythm and harmony permeate the inner part of the soul more than anything else . . ." -- a quote attributed to Plato -- at least according to the world wide web!!  For sure, wise people, for a very long time, have known how significantly music impacts the human existence.  Music feeds the soul.  Lincoln Choral Artists has been in the business of promoting the arts and feeding the soul with vocal music for nearly four decades.  Along the way, LCA projects have provided collaborative opportunities and venues for young singers;  garnered support through mentorship and assistance with local causes;  offered a morale boost for residents of retirement centers;  enhanced the importance of commemoration of significant local, national and international events -- among many, many other things.

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.

Music and dance to commemorate 9/11

The 9/11 service at St. Mark's will also feature quiet and reflective candlelight.

Credits: Scott Robinson, via flickr

On September 11, 2001, the world watched in shock and horror as the terrorists attacked our great nation. Ten years have gone by, although for some, it still feels like it was yesterday for the loss and grief never quite go away. For the first anniversary, the Lincoln community remembered and honored those who died with a tribute in music at Kimball Recital Hall, and this year, on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, St. Mark's-on-the-Campus will host a service in memory of the event.

St. Mark's-on-the-Campus is located at 13th and R Sts. at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln campus, and the event is set for 8:00pm. Many people are collaborating to bring this together including Lincoln's own Dulces Voces, the UNL Dance Department, UNL viola professor and LSO member, Clark Potter. The first movement of Kurt Knecht's newly commissioned piece, "Ordo Rachelis," will be performed by Dulces Voces, and the composer's piece "Meditation" will be performed by Clark Potter.

 

This will be a time for the Lincoln community to gather together, regardless of religious affiliation, and join together in memory, reflection, and prayer--much as we all did 10 years ago on September 11th.