Grammy Award-Winning Vocal Ensemble Chanticleer Performs at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church

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WACO, Texas (Oct. 26, 2012) - Named after the clear-singing rooster in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," Grammy Award-winning all-male, 12-member vocal ensemble Chanticleer is coming to Waco to perform a mix of contemporary music, jazz, spirituals and world music.
"Not only is Chanticleer a world-class vocal ensemble, but they perform music from a variety of time periods and cultures--Chinese, the British Isles, Scandinavia, Italy, and the Americas. It is a treat to experience such a multi-cultural and stylistically-varied musical program," said Randall Umstead, D.M.A. (doctorate of musical arts), associate professor of voice chair in the division of vocal studies at Baylor's School of Music.

"Although this event is not being produced by the Baylor School of Music, we thoroughly encourage and support these wonderful community efforts to bring outstanding cultural events to our students and our community. These events both enrich our students' lives and broaden their educational experience far beyond what we can offer in a classroom environment."

Chanticleer was founded by Louis Botto in 1978 in San Francisco. The ensemble gives approximately 100 concerts a year throughout the world, appearing regularly in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago and Paris as well as its home base of San Francisco.

In cooperation with Baylor University's School of Music, Chanticleer will perform at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church (AAUMC) in Waco at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 29. Tickets cost $35 for premium seating, $25 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets can be purchased at www.firstwaco.org, at the door or in person during AAUMC business hours, Mon. through Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 1300 Austin Ave.

The ensemble has won countless awards including a Grammy Awards for Best Small Ensemble Performance and the contemporary a cappella recording award for best classical album. Chanticleer was featured on Billboard magazine's Top 10 best-selling classical artists list in 2010 and the group was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

The ensemble has more than 30 albums, including 10 Christmas albums that feature their favorite carols and other classic Christmas tunes.

For more information, contact Randy Umstead, director of Music-Austin Avenue UMC at (254)745-4685 or by email at Randy_Umstead@Baylor.edu.

by Rebecca Malzahn , student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

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Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.