NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s Chamber Choir will perform at the National Collegiate Choral Organization Conference on Nov. 7-9 at the University of Maryland.
NSU’s Chamber Choir conducted by Dr. Nicholaus Cummins was one of 12 ensembles from around the country selected to perform for college/university and choral professionals from around the country. More than 80 choirs applied to perform at the conference. According to Cummins, this is the first national invitation for a choir at Northwestern State.
“Northwestern State will be singing on the same stage as Temple University, Kansas State University, the University of Maryland and other significantly larger state and private universities,” said Cummins. “It is a testament to the ability of our students and faculty at Northwestern State and the Dear School of Creative and Performing arts to be showcased alongside these other fine schools.”
The Chamber Choir will present a program they performed for a local audience in an Oct. 24 concert. The program will include “Alleluia Sancti Henrici” by Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, “Ave Maris Stella” by Trond Kverno “Aftonen” by Hugo Alfven, “Maya Danser” by Per Nørgard, “Trilo” by Bengt Ollen featuring mezzo-soprano Emily Saldivar of Brownsville, Texas, and “Sakkijarven Polkka” arranged by Jonathan Rathbone, featuring sopranos Amanda Charles of Shreveport and Valentina Herrazo Alvarez of Cartagena, Colombia, and bass Jayvian Bush of Lafayette.
Last summer, the Chamber Choir recently earned third prize in the Ave Verum International Choral Competition in Baden, Austria. The ensemble also performed in three European capitals at Saint Martin’s Basilica in Prague, Czech Republic, Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vienna, Austria, and Saint Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava, Slovakia.
In 2018, the Northwestern State Lyric Choir won a Gold Medal in the Female Choirs category at the 3rd Budapest International Choral Celebration and Laurea Mundi International Open Competition and Grand Prix of Choral Music. The Chamber Choir received a Laurea Summa Cum Laude diploma in the Mixed Choir category and a Laurea Cum Laude diploma in the Musica Sacra (Sacred Music) category.
The National Collegiate Choral Organization exists to serve the specific needs of university and collegiate choral conductors by providing a national forum for their collegiate choruses to perform, by offering lectures and promoting repertoire suitable to their interests, and by aiding in their professional development and program growth through performance as well as scholarly and research opportunities.
NCCO sponsors biennial conferences that focus on the particular needs of the college/university and other choral professionals. These conferences include performances by university and college choirs, presentations/clinics/workshop sessions appropriate for university and college conductors and sessions that feature literature appropriate for university and college choirs.
For more information on Northwestern State’s choral programs, go to capa.nsula.edu/music.
