Freed-Hardeman University Singers Perform at the Sydney Opera House

Seven Freed-Hardeman University students were selected for the Young Adult Honors Performance Series in August 2019 at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia. This year's participating students were Jacob Dowdy, Holden Mobley, Abigail Moore, Jacob Moseley, Parker Pearce, Hannah Weakland, and Alec Wimmer. An eighth student, Summer England, was named a finalist as well but was unable to travel. The FHU students were seven of 70 finalists selected from more than 14,000 auditions submitted from around the world. FHU students spent six days in Sydney working with renowned conductors and musicians to prepare for their group performance.

While in Sydney, performers took a day trip to the Blue Mountains and a Finalist Celebration Cruise on Sydney Harbour. Singers worked with Dr. Jeffrey Redding, director of choral activities at West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Florida. As a conductor and clinician, Redding has led choirs in performances at state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors' Association (ACDA). For the Young Adult Honors Performance Series, Redding selected several songs including "Ave Maria" and "Hallelujah" from the Mount of Olives and "Berusa Er" (Drink Abundantly).