by Caitlin Fien and Connor Lopp
All eyes on the director, members of the A Cappella choir watch carefully, with binders ready, as they are conducted in one of the many pieces they have been preparing. Music stops, and pencils fly as imperative corrections are given. Students have been working in order to prepare for their upcoming performance with the Louisville Chorus. The choir has been learning a plethora of new music at an accelerated rate.
“We have been preparing for this concert since practically the first day of school. We also used our yearly choir retreat to further prepare the material,” said junior Jake Zurschmiede.
With the Louisville Chorus, String Players of Louisville Philharmonia, and professional soloists, A Cappella members will be performing the “Schubert Mass in G”, and “Lauda Jerusalem” by Vivaldi.
The choir will also perform “O Magnum Mysterium” arranged by David N. Childs and “Bogoroditsye Dyevo” without the aid of the Louisville Chorus.
This unique performing experience presents a challenge for the choir. “It is stretching us musically this early in the year. Because it is such a high profile performance, it is important to get our music as polished as possible.” said choir director Angela Hampton.
The A Cappella Choir received the opportunity after the executive director of the Louisville Chorus, Therese Davis, came to one of their spring concerts and asked them to join in a performance in the future.
“They are one of the best choruses around,” said Daniel Spurlock, music director of the Louisville Chorus. He has worked with the choir at school rehearsals on two occasions on the two pieces being sung with the other choir.
“I feel that performing with [the Louisville Chorus] will really help the A Cappella choir be able to work out more complex music and perform it more professionally than we normally would,” said sophomore Jody Jansa.
The concert will be held at 4 p.m. at St. Brigid Cathedral in Louisville. General tickets cost $20, seniors citizens $15, and students are $5.