By Rory McCarty
Sounds from the OU Symphony Chorus filled Detroit Orchestra Hall as they performed Verdi’s Requiem alongside the Pontiac Oakland Symphony at an April 9 performance.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for students, community members and faculty to be able to perform in such a magnificent place as Orchestra Hall, which is known for its excellent acoustics,” says Jackie Wiggins, professor and chair of the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, about the annual collaboration.
"It is a work of grandeur that offers beautiful melodic lines and rich texture and harmonies," she adds.
The OU students who fill the chorus began practicing in January to prepare to perform this masterpiece of choral literature. The work is so large and complex, the Southfield Madrigal Chorale and the Cantata Academy Chorale joined the performance to fill the vast number of required performers.
“This event also provided a wonderful internship experience for OU students, an opportunity for student singers and instrumentalists to perform alongside professionals,” she adds. This helps students prepare for professional performances after graduation – in fact a number of graduates from OU’s voice program have performed in the New York City Opera and Berlin Opera companies.
“It was an amazing opportunity to perform Verdi's Requiem in Detroit's Orchestra Hall,” says vocal performance student Allison Minando. “I have never had an opportunity to perform something so big and so great.”
“I was really thankful to everyone who made the performance possible, and at such a great venue,” says Dennis Strach, a sophomore Music Education major. “Not only was it an honor to sing with my colleagues from OU, under the direction of musical genius Mike Mitchell, it was an added treat to have the Cantata Academy Chorale and Southfield Madrigal Chorale join us for the performance.”
Michael Mitchell, associate professor of Music and conductor of the OU Symphony Chorus and the Cantata Academy, conducted Requiem, while Gregory Cunningham, associate professor and coordinator of Instrumental Music conducted Overture to La Forza del Destino, another Verdi composition. In addition, OU faculty members Candace de Lattre, mezzo-contralto, vocal music instructor, and John Paul White, bass, music professor, performed two of the four operatic solos.
Rory McCarty is a sophomore journalism major from Richmond, Mich.