The University of Maryland Summer Chorus 2024: A Lifetime of Song will take place on July 27, 2024, at 8:00 pm. This campus and community chorus is available to anyone who wishes to sing this July. This year, UMD Summer Chorus will tackle Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, a choral masterwork that has provided comfort and solace to many since its creation. The program will also feature Fanny Hensel’s contrasting cantatas: Hiob explores human suffering as a test of faith and Lobgesang is a joyful celebration of birth.
Conducted by Trevor Tran and David Mann, the program features talented soloists: Soprano Missy Curl, Alto Jess Harika, Tenor Chris Alfonso, and Bass Henrique Carvalho.
There is a registration fee of $80 ($60 for high school & college students). Those fees are non-refundable. All scores will be provided. No audition is required.
Rehearsals will take place from 7-9:30 pm at The Clarice Performing Arts Center (Rm. 2201) on the following dates.
Week 1: July 9, 10, 11
Week 2: July 15, 16, 17, 18
Week 3: July 22, 23, 24
Dress Rehearsal: Friday, July 26, 7-10pm
Saturday, July 27 Performance Call time is 6:30 pm
You can register at https://theclarice.formstack.com/forms/summerchorus. For more info, contact umchoirs@umd.edu or 301.405.5571.
About the Music
Composed between 1887 and 1890, Fauré’s Requiem is a choral masterwork that has provided comfort and solace to many since its creation. The Requiem genre originates from Catholic roots, in which it was a service for the dead, but over time it has also become a musical piece that pays tribute to the deceased. Fauré’s composition presents a calm and peaceful outlook on death compared to earlier composed Requiems. Through the seven movements, Fauré presents these rich, stirring melodies that make the piece unique and memorable. This choral classic has honored a countless number of departed and continues to inspire and console listeners to this day.
Fanny Hensel, sister of composer Felix Mendelssohn, composed the cantatas Hiob and Lobgesang in 1831 at the age of twenty-six years old. Hiob draws its text from the Old Testament story of Job and human suffering as a test of faith. The opening movement features leaping lines in all voices and asks why mankind must endure injustice and pain. Lobgesang is a celebratory cantata written in honor of the birth of the composer’s first child. The work is highly influenced by the musical styles of J.S. Bach and even includes a recitative reflecting on the pains of childbirth as well as a final chorus welcoming Hensel’s newborn son into the world.
About the Conductors
David Mann is a doctoral student and graduate assistant in choral conducting at the University of Maryland, College Park where he serves as the conductor of the University Chorale. David is also in his fourth year as artistic director of the auditioned community ensemble, Voce Chamber Singers in Vienna, Virginia. Prior to attending UMD, David was a high school choral director for 7 years in Prince William County, Virginia. As a clinician and presenter, he has led high school and middle school honor choirs in the Commonwealth of Virginia and presents regularly at state and regional conferences on repertoire and pedagogy for developing singers. He earned his master’s degree in choral conducting from Michigan State University and his bachelor’s degree in music education from James Madison University. In 2018 he was recognized as the winner of the American Prize in Choral Conducting - Collegiate Division and in 2023 he was recognized as a finalist for the American Prize in Choral Performance - Community Division.
Trevor Tran is a current graduate student pursuing a DMA in choral conducting at the University of Maryland. In addition to his studies, Trevor serves as Artistic Director of the Northern Virginia Chorale and Director of Music Ministry at Grace United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Previously, Trevor was Head of Performing Arts and Director of Vocal Arts at Fort Myers High School in Southwest Florida, and he was recognized as a 2023 Yamaha “40 under 40” Educator through his work there. Besides being an educator, Trevor is an active composer and presenter. Organizations like Resounding Achord, CORO, Choral Arts Initiative, and San José State University have sung his compositions; and he has presented at state, regional, and national music educator conferences. Trevor holds a bachelor's degree in music composition from San José State University and concurrent master's degrees in choral conducting and music composition from Temple University.
About the Ensemble
The University of Maryland Summer Chorus is a campus and community chorus available to anyone who wishes to sing. Each year, during three weeks in July, the UMD Summer Chorus rehearses and performs a major choral work with professional orchestra and soloists, led by one of the graduate conductors in the UMD choral conducting program. Performances have included Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, the Duruflé Requiem, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. Auditions for participation are not required.