Lebanon Valley College Concert Choir Announces Spring Tour

Related Media

The Lebanon Valley College Concert Choir embarks on its 80th Annual Spring Tour starting Sunday, Mar. 20 in Harrisburg.

ANNVILLE, PA (03/10/2016)(readMedia)-- The Lebanon Valley College Concert Choir embarks on its 80th Annual Spring Tour Sunday, Mar. 20 in Harrisburg. The tour includes five performances and concludes Sunday, April 3 at 3 p.m. in the Lutz Recital Hall in Blair Music Center. There is no admission charge, but donations may be collected in support of the host churches' music ministry.

The Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Matthew Erpelding, director of choral activities and assistant professor of music, will present a program titled "Genius Loci – The Spirit of a Place." This title is an ode to the ancient Romans because they believed that some places were protected by a powerful spirit known as a "genius loci." Today, the term genius loci is used to describe the overall essence and atmosphere of a specific place, rather than its protector deity. The music selected for this program is representative of the spirit of that place and metaphorically demonstrated through music.

The program opens with a selection of pieces performed by the LVC Chamber Choir, starting with Kalkadunga Yurdu, an Austrailian work that mimics the sounds of the didgeridoo. Following will be the African-American spiritual Down to the River to Pray and Morten Lauridesen's Two Fire Madrigals, "Ove'é Lass', Il Bel Viso" and "Se Per Haveri, Olime." Then baritone Christian Johnson '17 will be featured in Moses Hogan's arrangement of Wade in the Water before the opening set concludes with Kentaro Sato's Love on Fire.

The LVC Concert Choir will follow with Ben Allaway's musical composition, Alelouya Sasa!, featuring tenor Jimmy Cicchino '16. Next, the Concert Choir will perform two Brazilian choral works originally composed by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Ave Maria and Estrela e Lua Nova, showcasing the beautiful voices of soprano Kyra Lancaster '17 and alto Kara Hess '16. The 64-voice group will then perform six more musical compositions before finishing out with its traditional The Lord Bless and Keep You, originally composed by Peter Lutkin.

Tour sites:

Sunday, March 20, 3 p.m.

Grace United Methodist Church

216 State Street, Harrisburg, Pa. 17101

Thursday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.

Elm Park United Methodist Church

712 Linden Street, Scranton, Pa. 17101

Friday, April 1, 7:30 p.m.

Pennington United Methodist Church

60 South Main Street, Pennington, N.J. 08534

With special guests, the Pennington Singers

Saturday, April 2, 7:30 p.m.

Epworth United Methodist Church

9008 Rosemont Drive, Gaithersburg, Md. 20877

With special guests, the Quince Orchard HS Chamber Singers

Sunday, April 3, 3 p.m.

Lutz Recital Hall in Blair Music Center

Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa. 17003

(Concert Choir only)

Lebanon Valley College Chamber Choir

The LVC Chamber Choir is one of two auditioned mixed choral ensembles at the College. Chamber Choir performs choral literature chosen from a broad range of styles and historical eras, but specializes in advanced a cappella choral music. In addition to regular appearances on campus, the LVC Chamber Choir performs throughout the Lebanon Valley at schools, churches, and other community events.

Lebanon Valley College Concert Choir

The Lebanon Valley College Concert Choir is the other of two auditioned mixed choral ensembles at LVC. Concert Choir has toured each year, primarily in the Northeast, since 1936. In addition, the choir has been featured on more than 30 national radio broadcasts including National Radio Pulpit and Great Choirs in America. The choir has performed with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, and holds standing invitations to appear at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., and the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York City. Other non-tour appearances have included the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree, the Festival of Lights at the Washington, D.C. Temple Visitor's Center, performing with the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, and appearances before the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association and the Music Educators National Conference Eastern Division Convention in Washington, D.C. The choir has toured internationally in Eastern Europe (1973), Great Britain (1999), Italy (2001), Central Europe: the Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary (2007), and Norway and Denmark (2011.)

About Matthew Erpelding

Dr. Matthew Erpelding is an Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Lebanon Valley College, in Annville, Pa., where he conducts the Concert and Chamber Choirs, and teaches courses in music education and choral conducting. Prior to his appointment at LVC, Dr. Erpelding was Director of Choral Activities at Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, N.J., as well as at Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford, Ill. Additionally, Dr. Erpelding is a member of the conducting faculty at the Performing Arts Institute at Wyoming Seminary in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He is in frequent demand as a guest clinician and conductor. Dr. Erpelding earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, as well as a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Northern Illinois University. His conducting teachers include Timothy Stalter, Eric Johnson, Tim Peter, and Weston Noble. Dr. Erpelding is a member of both the American Choral Directors Association and The National Association for Music Educators. He currently serves as Multicultural and Ethnic Repertoire and Resources Chair for the Pennsylvania ACDA chapter. His original choral works are regularly performed throughout the world and published through Earthsongs Choral Music and Santa Barbara Music Publishing.