Champlain Valley Voices and SUNY Plattsburgh Choral Union Present Broadway Duos

PLATTSBURGH, NY (04/03/2009)(readMedia)-- On Saturday, April 18, at 8 p.m., the Champlain Valley Voices and the SUNY Plattsburgh Choral Union, led by Artistic Director Dr. Karen Becker, will present "The Great American Songbook Vol. 2: Broadway Duos." The concert will feature popular songs made famous on Broadway by well-known American songwriting duos such as Rodgers and Hammerstein; Rodgers and Hart; Lerner and Loewe; and Kander and Ebb.

The concert will take place in the E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium, Hawkins Hall, located at the corner of Cornelia and Broad streets on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus. Tickets can be purchased at the door, from chorus members, and at the Corner-Stone Bookshop or Myers Pharmacy in Plattsburgh. Prices are $17 for general admission; $12 for students and senior citizens; and $5 for children under the age of 12. SUNY Plattsburgh student tickets are $2 and may be purchased at the door or in advance at the Angel College Center.

Now in its 26th season, the Champlain Valley Voices (formerly the Champlain Valley Oratorio Society) and SUNY Plattsburgh Choral Union have been busy preparing for this concert following their successful performance of "The Messiah" in December.

"This concert is something entirely different and offers a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talent we have in the chorus," says Becker.

The variety of musical selections include classic Broadway songs from musicals including "Oklahoma!" "The Sound of Music," "South Pacific," "Carousel," and "The King and I," and will feature both soloists and ensembles from the chorus. Accompanying the chorus will be guest artists Ah Young You (piano), Josh Weinstein (bass) and Peter Fiore (drums). Music faculty members Dr. Rick Davies (trombone) and Herm Matlock (trumpet) will step in for "It's A Grand Night For Singing" from "State Fair."

Among the Rodgers and Hammerstein favorites, several in particular are worth noting. Plattsburgh residents Janice Tobin and Tony Galloro will sing the romantic love song, "If I Loved You" from "Carousel," and an all male ensemble will entertain the audience with their version of "There is Nothing Like a Dame" from South Pacific.

Rodgers and Hart favorites include "I Could Write a Book" from "Pal Joey," sung by a mixed ensemble featuring SUNY Plattsburgh students; "My Funny Valentine" from "Babes in Arms" sung by Plattsbugh resident Gina Lindsey, with accompaniment by Matlock; and "Bewitched" another "Pal Joey" favorite, performed by Saundra Stortz of Plattsburgh.

In her second season as artistic director, Becker is enjoying the community chorus experience. "We are fortunate to have a music organization right here in Plattsburgh that provides the community with opportunities to hear a wide-range of quality choral music, from choral-orchestral masterworks to popular music from the Golden Age of musicals," stated Becker. "What makes the group unique is that students and community members have an opportunity to perform together, and they really enjoy that."

For more information about how to support or join the chorus, visit their Web site at www.champlainvalleyoratorio.com.

Becker is an assistant professor at SUNY Plattsburgh and is one of the area's most popular performing artists. Becker currently serves as artistic director of Champlain Valley Voices and SUNY Plattsburgh Choral Union. Most recently she conducted the 90 member chorus, soloists and orchestra in Handel's "Messiah." This past year she has also served as musical director for performances of "A Hand of Bridge," "A Game of Chance" and "Guys and Dolls" at SUNY Plattsburgh and for "Fiddler on the Roof" at Ausable Valley High School.

Becker has performed in venues across the country and has served as conductorand music director for a wide range of performing groups. Now in its fourth year, her popular recital series "Karen Becker and Friends" serves as a showcase for local and regional artists as well as for visiting guest performers from around the country. Regional performance highlights include appearing as a guest artist on the Hill and Hollow concert series and collaborating with artists and students from the Meadowmount Conservatory.

In 2007, Becker traveled to Cairo, Egypt, where she was a featured artist on the Ewart Hall Concert series at American University. She has recently played recitals in St. Paul, Minn.; New York City and Long Island, N.Y.; and Denver, Colo.

Becker has worked as music director and conducted many shows on tour at the Lake Dillon Theater, the Garner Galleria Theater, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. She has acted as conductor and assistant conductor for such groups as the Colorado Children's Chorale and the Colorado Symphony Chorus, including appearing as a solo recitalist. She has worked as a pianist for the American Opera Project at New York City Opera, a piano soloist for the Summergarden series at the Museum of Modern Art, a keyboard player in the Philip Glass Ensemble, and a featured pianist on the Music from Japan series at Columbia University. While in New York City, Becker was a champion of contemporary music, playing premieres by John Cage and rarely heard music by Charles Koechlin and Eric Satie.

Becker holds degrees in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School, as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Wisconsin where she was a student of Van Cliburn medal winner, Christopher Taylor. While at the University of Wisconsin, she was featured as soloist in the "Concerto for Piano and Winds" by Igor Stravinsky, with the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, an organization she helped found; she also served as pianist with the UW Symphony and Chamber Orchestra.