The USingers are Hard at Work!

The University Singers are hard at work on their fall performance repertoire.

Dr. Grace Cho works with the soprano section.

The choir is performing "Belshazzar's Feast," a large choral piece by British composer, William Walton.  (Here's a recent performance from the BBC Proms in England.)

The piece tells the Old Testament story of King Belshazzar of Babylon.  At the outset, the Jews are in exile in Babylon.  When Belshazzar commits sacrilege and uses the Jewish sacred vessels to praise the pagan gods, he is killed, Babylon falls, and the Jews are freed.

This past Saturday, the University Singers had what they call their "Daytreat" - an entire spent rehearsing music.  Pianist Grace Cho lead the choir in several rehearsals. They also split into sections and rehearsed independently.

The Alto II's work on their music.

Let's hear it for the Tenor I's!

Later in the afternoon on Saturday, the choir took a break to participate in a choir-bonding activity. Each choir remember had a list of silly questions to ask other members of choir (i.e. If you were a Crayola crayon, what color would you be?).  The goal of the exercise: help learn names and get to know each other.

Choir members get to know each other through an ice-breaker game.

Get-to-know-you games.

The University Singers are under the direction of Gisèle Becker, with Dr. Grace Cho on piano.  The performance of "Belshazzar's Feast" will be on November 22 at 3 p.m. in St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church.  All are welcome.  More info here.