FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          April 26, 2005

SPRING CHORAL CONCERT TO PROVIDE MUSICAL VARIETY

            The choral ensembles of Northwestern Oklahoma State University will present their annual spring choral concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 1, in Herod Hall Auditorium. Dr. James Shrader, associate professor of music, will direct the singers, and Dr. Rodney Murrow, professor of music, will accompany the groups. The concert is free, and the public is invited to attend.

            The University Chorale will open the program with the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner.” In March, the Chorale performed this arrangement in Peoria, Ariz., for a preseason baseball game featuring the Seattle Mariners, now managed by Northwestern alumnus Mike Hargrove.

            The Concert Choir will sing an Irving Berlin medley that includes “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Shaking the Blues Away,” “Play a Simple Melody” and “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” The University Singers will perform “Isn’t It Romantic” arranged by Steve Zagree, “Two Shy Hearts” by Randy Crenshaw and a Cole Porter Medley arranged by Mac Huff.

            Northwestern’s finalists in the Oklahoma competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing also will perform. Laverne freshman soprano Jillian Bartow will sing “Laurie’s Song” from “The Tender Land” by Aaron Copland and Conway Springs, Kan., sophomore Kevin Kerr will sing “Dei miei bollenti spiriti” from “La Traviata” by Verdi. Both are Northwestern Vocal Scholars taught by Dr. Aija Shrader, assistant professor of music.

            The Concert Choir will sing Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.” The program will conclude with the University Chorale singing “Pray for Peace” by Eric Ewazen, “Carolina Rag” arranged by Dr. James Shrader and “The Music’s Always There with You” by John Rutter.

            The Spring Choral Concert is presented as part of Northwestern’s annual Spring Reunion Weekend. It also is the culmination of Northwestern’s Arts Week. For more information, contact Shrader at (580) 327-8591 or at jashrader@nwosu.edu.

-NW-

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