FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2/20/2003- Ginny Butler

SFA's Choral Union and Women's Choir to Perform

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The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and the Department of Music will present the Choral Union and Women's Choir in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in Cole Concert Hall.

The choirs will perform pieces from the renaissance and romantic periods but most of the pieces will be from the 20th century, according to Michael Dean, SFA assistant professor and conductor of both choirs.

"The Choral Union has as its goal to sing quality choral literature for mixed choir," said Dean. "Included in their program will be the timeless spiritual ‘Every Time I Feel the Spirit;’ ‘Der Abend,’ an example of Brahms' outstanding choral writing; and ‘Turn the World Around,’ a Harry Belefonte tune full of incredible energy."

The Women's Choir specializes in the performance of music for women's voices, both accompanied and unaccompanied.

"Among their pieces will be the popular folk song ‘Annie Laurie;’ Stephen Hatfield’s arrangement of ‘Las Amarillas,’ which is so exciting it can bring the dead back to life; and Paul Read’s 'Birdsong,'" said Dean. "The words for the latter piece were written by a child from a concentration camp, yet the text is full of life."

Dr. James Pitts, staff accompanist at SFA, will accompany the Choral Union and Yu-fen Chou, graduate student from Taiwan, will accompany the Women’s Choir.

Tickets for the concert are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For more information, call (936) 468-6407 or 1-888-240-ARTS.

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