The upcoming Chamber Singers concert has a new addition this year: a men’s choir festival. On April 19, the group will perform their annual spring concert.
The Chamber Singers are directed by Jon Hurty, professor in music and choral studies. The ensemble is a select group that sings pieces meant for small ensembles, with a focus on jazz.
“This concert is going to feature two main things, it’s actually a little different than what we do a lot of years,” Hurty said. “The Chamber Singers will be singing…and in addition we’re doing a men’s choir festival that the Wennerberg ensemble will be involved in, as well as some other men including some local high school singers.”
“So the Chamber Singers will be doing half of the concert and the other half of the concert will be the men’s festival,” Hurty explained. “Matt Oltman, who was the music director for Chanticleer… he’s going to come and work with this men’s group, and they’re gonna do some men’s chorus pieces.”
Chanticleer is a famous Grammy-winning, all-male a capella group based in San Francisco.
Wennerberg member Tom Hagaman is excited to partake in the concert.
“I am really looking forward to the experience with Matt Oltman, and singing all of the wonderful pieces that he has chosen and prepared for us,” Hagaman said.
“It’s going to be an awesome experience to learn from his past experiences in his all-male a capella group that he was a part of. It’s also going to be a great experience singing with chambers and learning off of our own Augie students with their wonderful and great musicianship skills, and working with the community.”
Some faculty members will also be participating in the concert by performing a few pieces.
As for the Chamber Singers, some of their songs will include pop arrangements such a Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek,” and a Swedish pop song since they will be traveling to Sweden.
Dan Walls, a member of the Chamber Singers, also shares his enthusiasm.
“I like it. I think that the variety that we’re doing is really cool, and it challenges us to do a lot things… there’s a lot of variety, and I think a lot of people will be able to get something from the concert since there’s a lot of music that’s going to be presented,” Walls explained.
The event will be held in Wallenberg Hall, located in the Denkmann building, on April 19 at 2 p.m. Admission is free.