October 10, 2007

In the Limelight: The Choral Art Society

The Choral Art Society is a large mixed ensemble of approximately 50 singers. It comprises both music majors and non-majors; students are selected by audition. “All of our large ensembles—Choral Art Society, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Ohio Wesleyan University Chamber Orchestra, and Park Avenue Jazz Band—are open to students in all disciplines, but an audition is required,” says Cameron Bennett, chair of the music department. “Performing with these groups is a terrific opportunity for liberal arts students who aren’t music majors to experience playing with a top-tier group in a professional department.”

In larger institutions, these opportunities usually are not available, Bennett says. “They might have a third choir or some other groups in which non-majors can participate, but the students don’t sit right next to the music majors and play with them. It’s a great experience for someone who played in an orchestra or sang in a choir in high school and wants to continue with it at a high level in a professional setting.”

Directed by Jason Hiester, assistant professor of music, the Choral Art Society presents two concerts each year in Gray Chapel. This year, the first performance will be Sunday, December 2, at 3:15 p.m. “We’re doing an eclectic missa brevis,” Hiester says. “The Kyrie is by Leonard Bernstein, the Gloria by Dominic Argento, the Sanctus by J. S. Bach, and the Agnes Dei by Anthony Ramirez. We’re also presenting a spiritual, ‘Praise His Holy Name’ by Keith Hampton.”

The men and women will also sing separately; representative works include “Oh, Mistress Mine,” “Duluman,” “Scarable Fair,” and “Hotukoi.”

For the spring performance on Sunday, April 13, at 3:15 p.m., the group will join with the Ohio Wesleyan University Chamber Orchestra, directed by Kenichiro Matsuda, to perform the Mozart Requiem. “Every couple of years, we combine our efforts to offer a major work like this,” Bennett says. “It’s a huge undertaking for the students.”

– Gretchen Hirsch