“Life can have bumps in the road and how we handle those helped craft the journey of a wandering heart through our music,” said Nicole Lamartine, conductor of “Wind, Sun, and Moon.”
The fall concert of the UW Collegiate Chorale, entitled “Wind, Sun, and Moon” is the university’s premiere chorale ensemble of the year. The ensemble will take place in the Performing Arts Concert Hall tonight from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Collegiate Chorale is comprised of the University of Wyoming’s top vocal musicians and has a lot to bring to the table, Laramtine said.
“The Collegiate Chorale prides itself on innovative concert performances, often with dance, narration or instruments,” said Lamartine in remark to the unique dynamic of the group. The choir has gained national acclaim for its performances at the National Collegiate Choral Organization and National Association for Music Educators
conferences, as well as premieres of works by Grammy and Pulitzer-prize winning composers and conductors.
“I love working with these top vocal musicians,” said Lamartine. She described the student vocal musicians as having a fresh approach to figuring out the meaning of the text is, being able to change their vocal sound to reflect the emotion of the piece and all of them striving for excellence through their commitment to vocal art.
Sophomore studying music education Jacob Crotsenberg, is a student in the Collegiate Chorale.
“My favorite part about Collegiate Choir is that I get professional training for higher choirs I might be a part of in the future,” said Crotsenberg.
Crotsenberg said that the Collegiate Chorale is a great way to gain experience for the professional world and meet other students that are interested in the same field.
The program, “Wind, Sun, and Moon” is comprised of several unique pieces that all have different focuses and styles.
Lamartine commented on the range of the program: “Students will experience a variety of music and musical styles, ranging from Swedish Jazz Improvisation to South American Latin beats and from the American spiritual to Mongolian soundscape music.”
Over the duration of the program the music will cover many of the world’s diversities, as well as covering the whole emotional spectrum. The choir was able to work with composer Gabriela Lena Frank, who composed “Hombre Errante.” “Hombre Errante” is one of the many compositions featured in “Wind, Sun, and Moon” and was described by Lamartine as “a wandering man who finds himself along life’s journey.” Lamartine and Crotsenberg both feel that this program will reach out to and connect with every person in attendance.
