Renowned composer to be present for April 1 concert of OU ensembles and choruses

Renowned composer Morten Lauridsen will present OU's 2015 Varner Vitality Lecture on March 30.

For its 2015 Varner Vitality Lecture, Oakland University will welcome one of the most decorated and prolific composers in the world. Morten Johannes Lauridsen, hailed as the most frequently performed American Choral composer of all time, will visit OU’s campus for a lecture at 2 p.m. Monday, March 30, in Varner Recital Hall. 

Dr. Lauridsen is a distinguished professor of composition at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. His eight vocal cycles, instrumental works, art songs and series of motets are performed throughout the world, and several of his more than 200 CDs have received Grammy nominations. His music represents the best-selling choral works ever distributed by the publisher Theodore Presser, in business since 1783. 

 In 2007, “for his composition of radiant choral works combining musical beauty, power and spiritual depth,” Dr. Lauridsen received the National Medal of Arts, the United States’ highest artistic award, from the President in a White House ceremony. The National Endowment for the Arts in 2006 named him an “American Choral Master.”

“We are honored to have Morten Lauridsen at Oakland University as our Varner Vitality lecturer,” said James Lentini, senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost. “His music is firmly entrenched in the choral and vocal repertory of choirs around the world, and he is recognized as the leading voice of American choral music in modern times.” 

This year’s Varner Vitality presentation also includes a showing of the award-winning documentary “Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen.” Winner of two Best Documentary awards and an Audience Choice Award, the film was praised as a “heartening rarity” by Terry Teachout of the Wall Street Journal. 

In addition, Dr. Lauridsen will be on hand as Oakland University ensembles and choruses perform a concert of his music at 7:30 p.m. April 1, at Orchestra Hall in Detroit. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit: startickets.com/events/item/oakland-symphony-orchestra-a-detroit-residency-tribute-to-morten-lauridsen.

The Varner Vitality Lecture Series, named in honor of Oakland's first chancellor, Durward "Woody" Varner, aims to energize and sustain the highest academic and scholarly aspirations of the university community. Previous speakers include Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former president of India, Dr. Madeleine Albright, the first female U.S. Secretary of State, and Dr. Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist.

Sponsored by Academic Affairs, the event is free and open to the public. Maps of OU’s campus are available at oakland.edu/map or by searching for "Varner Hall" on a smartphone. 

For more information, contact OU Executive Events at (248) 370-2053. Those planning to attend the lecture must RSVP to aaevent2@oakland.edu.