The Baylor University Concert Choir and Baylor Bella Voce, both conducted by Associate Director of Choral Ensembles Lynne Gackle, will present a joint concert called “Illuminations of Heart” on Friday, May 1, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Concert Hall, located within the Glennis McCrary Music Building. Appearing as guest conductor and composer will be Daniel Hall, Director of Choral Activities at Ohio University. The Concert Choir’s graduate conductors are Landry Duvall and Grant Frederick, and the accompanists are Michael Womack and Chohee Kim.
The 60-voice Concert Choir will open the program with “Shout!” by Renée Waters, “Verleih uns Frieden” by Felix Mendelssohn, “Rytmus” by Ivan Hrusovsky, and “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” by Mack Wilberg.
The Concert Choir will also sing Eric Whitacre’s Five Hebrew Love Songs and “John the Revelator” by Sean Ivory and Paul Caldwell.
Baylor Bella Voce, a 28-voice women’s chamber choir, will open their portion of the concert with “O Frondens Virga” by twelfth-century German composer Hildegard von Bingen, “O Salutaris Hostia” by ''riks Ešenvalds, and “Ave Maria” by David MacIntyre.
Three pieces by Daniel Hall will come next, with “Reflections from Yad Vashem,” “White Birds,” and, in its world premiere, “Illuminations.” Dr. Hall composed “Illuminations” on a commission from Baylor Bella Voce, thanks to the generous support of English Professor D. Thomas Hanks and his wife, Mrs. Carole Hanks.
Concluding the program will be Baylor Bella Voce’s performances of the Mari Valverde arrangement of “Hébé” by Ernest Chausson and a setting by Robert DeCormier of the spiritual “Let Me Fly.”
This concert is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, call the Baylor University School of Music at 254-710-3991.