UM-Flint partners with MCC, area high schools for 48th Chamber Choir Invitational, Oct. 28

The University of Michigan-Flint's Music program has held an annual Chamber Choir Invitational for nearly 40 years. The event brings together high school choirs from around the Flint area for a day of singing.

On Oct. 28, UM-Flint Music will host the 48th edition of this unique vocal learning and performance opportunity. 140 choir students will participate in rehearsals and vocal clinics throughout the day, culminating in a 7:00 p.m. public concert at the Court Street United Methodist Church, 225 W. Court St., Flint.

"I began hosting this event when I joined UM-Flint in 2017, and everyone looks forward to a day full of singing each fall," said Gabriela Hristova, associate professor of music. "The energy the many singers bring together and the joint performances at the end of the day truly take your breath away. Generations of high school and college students have been part of this program-most of our choir directors this year are UM-Flint music alums! We've invited Mott Community College and are excited that they will join us this fall."

Featured choirs and their directors include:

• UM-Flint Chamber Singers, Gabriela Hristova.
• Mott Community College Choir, Matthew Packer.
• Powers Catholic High School Chamber Singers, Benjamin Cunningham.
• Swartz Creek High School Madrigals, Jared Leuck.
• Milan High School Chamber Choir, Shayla Powell.
• Davison High School Varsity Choir, Garth Starr.
• Durand High School Madrigals, Jessica Delay.

At the concert, each choir will perform two songs individually, with all of the choirs joining to perform three selections together: "Ukuthula," a traditional Zulu prayer for peace with a poignant and powerful message, arranged by Andre van den Merwe, followed by leading female American composer Elaine Hagenberg's, "I Will Be A Child of Peace."

"We'll close out the evening's performance with a truly fiery and invigorating African American spiritual, arranged for a mixed choir by prominent African-American composer Kevin Johnson," said Hristova. "It is certain to be an inspiring and high-energy night!"

In addition to rehearsing their selections and the combined choral repertoire, singers will hear a vocal recital presented by UM-Flint voice students. The recital will include individual solos and opera scenes. The day's activities allow high school singers to learn new vocal skills, practice their artistic expression and learn how to work within the ensemble to deliver a powerful performance. UM-Flint's Music students will also expand their skills in event production and management, community building, music leadership and arts education advocacy.

Leuck, choir director at Swartz Creek High School, is evidence that the Chamber Choir Invitational has a positive, long-term impact on the arts and music education in the local community.

"I started being involved with the Chamber Singers when I attended the University of Michigan-Flint from 1990-92," said Leuck. "When I became the high school choir director at Swartz Creek, our Madrial group was invited to participate, and since that time, we have participated in almost all of the Chamber Choir Invitational events.

"It is vital for student musicians to participate in large musical events that allow opportunities not available in a typical high school choral program," he said. "I'm looking forward to watching my students interact with other students from different schools with similar interests. I hope the musical world of my students will be expanded. I remember the fun, new friendships, and the great musical performances I experienced when I participated in the event as a student."

Cunningham, director of the Powers Catholic High School Chamber Singers, is another UM-Flint alum looking forward to the event.

"One of my favorite parts of this event is watching my fellow directors work with their students and to see what music they are practicing," he said. "It is rare for music teachers to collaborate across schools, and the fact that UM-Flint offers such a robust and wonderful experience for both the directors and students is a real treat!"

Durand's Delay is excited about the experience, which she hopes will help broaden her students' sense of artistic expression.

"I love that my students get to make music with students from other districts and experience the joy that is creating something that only lasts for the moment it is performed, making it precious," she said. "They realize from this experience that they are not as isolated in their craft as the fishbowl experience of high school would lead them to believe-they are actually connected to something universal and unifying."

And for MCC's Packer, that collective experience is at the core of what makes the Chamber Choir Invitational exceptional.

"I am excited for my students-and all of the students-to experience the synergy that comes when groups of people work together toward a common goal, in this case, creating art in the form of music," he said. "We accomplish collectively something we can not accomplish individually, and we create a special moment in time. As in music, so in life, it is important to recognize both the diversity of our individual gifts and the unity of our shared humanity."

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