New College of the Desert Choir to Perform at Pollock Theatre
The College of the Desert Community Choir will perform its first ever concert on Sunday, May 17 at 4 p.m. in the Pollock Theatre on the COD campus in Palm Desert. The event is free and open to the public.
The sixteen-voice Community Chorus is the newest chorus on campus and performs an eclectic variety of music from Gregorian chant to a cappella arrangements of modern pop and folk songs. Jack Weldon, the group’s director, says the group enjoys dabbling in lots of different genres.
“We’re definitely not your typical community choir. We like to mix it up a bit.” When asked about the group’s style, Weldon says, “It’s difficult to put a label on our style. I guess we seem to mostly be a classically infused bel canto jazz hybrid with a moonshine twiddled pop skew.”& amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; lt; /p>
The concert will feature several ethnic pieces including “The Lord’s Prayer” (sung in Kiswahili) as well as a boisterous arrangement of a Spanish folk song “Ronda Catonga” that will be sure to have you clapping your hands and stomping your feet.
Soloist Sean Brown will lend his mellifluous voice to the group’s arrangement of “Stand by Me”. Jairzinhy Enriquez will be the featured soloist for an arrangement of Jackie Wilson’s hit “ Higher and Higher,” and Dan Hung will have a solo in the poignant Irish folk song, “The Water is Wide.”
The concert will also feature a percussion ensemble on several of the pieces.
Community Choir is a non-auditioned vocal group open to all students who wish to perform in a mixed-choir setting. The choir meets Tuesdays from 6 till 9 p.m. and will accept new members in Fall 2009. Interested students and community members may sign up for the choir by registering for MUS 30.
For further information, contact Cheryl Houston, at 773-2574.