WILBERFORCE — The vocal artistry and majesty of a Central State University Chorus performance will now be available via recording as the Chorus prepares for a live-recording.
The world-acclaimed Chorus, which has performed around the world, will bring that sense of excitement and awe to new audiences so that more people in the United States can be exposed to what international audiences have witnessed, said Chorus Director Jeremy Winston.
“We want to capture this great musical experience that the choir presents in concert travelling around the world and performing in world-class concert halls,” Winston said.
The live recorded concert will occur at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. The concert will take place at Central State’s Paul Robeson Cultural & Performing Arts Center.
Winston said, “We decided to have it in The Paul Robeson Cultural & Performing Arts Complex because this iconic structure is a representation of the rich musical tradition of Central State University.”
Admission is $2 for students with an ID and $5 for the general public. Winston said the audience can expect to experience the full range of the Chorus’ repertoire — classical, jazz, gospel, spirituals and music from the movies.
Backed by a full orchestra, the chorus will perform its most requested song, “Total Praise,” and songs from well-known movies such as Porgy and Bess, Dreamgirls, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Ray, Winston said. In addition, the chorus will sing some holiday classics. But when asked what is the chorus’ favorites songs, Winston said, “Psalm 57,” which is a classical song; the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and the spiritual, “Even Me.”
The chorus, which is 45 members strong, consists of students representing freshmen through seniors.
“We’ve got a lot of new singers and this is a new ensemble but they sound magnificent,” added Winston.
The CSU Chorus has performed at The White House for their annual holiday celebration at the invitation of First Lady Michelle Obama and for Ohio Governor John Kasich’s inauguration. In addition, the chorus has also performed in over a dozen major international cities including Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, Spain; Prague, Czech Republic; Durbach, Germany; and Straussburg, France.
This is not the first time the chorus has recorded. In 1993, the chorus performed with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, resulting in the Telarc International CD, A Gospel Celebration, Amen. The disk was nominated for a Grammy Award and also featured Jennifer Holliday, Maureen McGovern, and Lou Rawls. The Chorus was featured on Blue Monday and Porgy and Bess for Telarc and The Cincinnati Pops.
Refraze Recording Studio in Kettering will record the Dec. 3 performance. The resulting CD should be ready in February. Winston said proceeds raised from the $10 cost will benefit scholarship, attire and travel for the choir. Concert tickets can be purchased online at: http://centralstate.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event.asp?id=411&cid=49.
