We will be holding auditions for the
2013-14 OBU choral ensembles in May. These groups include the
University Chorale, Bison Glee Club, and Bisonette Glee Club. Here's what the choral audition will look like:
1.
Vocalizing to test your range--to see how high and how low you can
sing. We're trying to determine which voice part you are most
comfortable singing.
2.
If you CURRENTLY sing in an OBU choral ensemble: Hearing you sing your
part on a section from a piece in your current repertoire. You will
also have the OPTION to additionally sing a solo selection of your
choosing.
If you are NOT currently singing in an OBU choral
ensemble: Hearing you sing a selection of your choosing with piano
accompaniment. This can be anything ranging from something you've
sung for solo contest (art song) to a simple folk song, Broadway tune or
maybe just a stanza of a hymn. We just want to hear a good example
of your solo voice. A pianist will be provided.
3. Testing your ability to sight-read your part on a short piece of music.
That's it! Come early to your audition to fill out an information sheet.
Auditions will be Tuesday, May 7th from 2:00-6:30 p.m. and Wednesday, May 8th from 2:00-6:30 p.m. IF NEEDED, we will continue on Thursday, May 9th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. They will be held in Raley Chapel room 203 (choral room). To sign up for an audition time, go to the Spring Audition "Google Doc" by clicking here. PLEASE try to sign up next to someone so as not to create gaps.
Contact Dr. Ballweg at brent.ballweg@okbu.edu if you have any questions. Looking forward to a GREAT 2013-14!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Getting Started on the Visions of Liberty Concert
A big"thank you" to the Bison Glee Club, the Bisonette Glee Club, and the University Chorale for letting us introduce this unique event we have planned for April 30, 2013. The Visions of Liberty concert, featuring the Randall Thompson Testament of Freedom, the Georg Frideric Handel Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened (Coronation Anthem), and the premiere of my newest work The Glow From That Fire is going to be a challenging but rewarding performance which connects these three works with the ideas of liberty, freedom, and the hopeful optimism that came from important political and social leaders of past generations.
The Thompson work uses selected texts from the writings of the 3rd American president, Thomas Jefferson, including those in letters written to John Adams, the 2nd American president and a harsh political rival of Jefferson's. In later years, they put aside their differences and became close allies and friends, and in the end, both died on the same day - July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. His words are full of hope for America, for the liberty fought for and won, and for the generations of Americans who would benefit from the birth-pains of a new country.
Handel wrote four anthems to commemorate the crowning of King George II in 1727. Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened is the second in this series, although there is some confusion over the order of performance of the four anthems. With texts from the Psalms and a wonderful, rousing "Alleluia" as a closing movement, Handel celebrates both the succession of power in his adopted country and the knowledge that God should be praised and honored by its leaders.
The Glow From That Fire is meant to both celebrate the hopeful optimism of President John F. Kennedy, by using much of his 1961 Inaugural Address as primary text as well as memorializing the man -- 50 years after his untimely and very public death. The five-movement work utilizes both the Kennedy speech with passages from the traditional Requiem Mass, and joins forces with an alto soloist, a narrator, choir, and orchestra to portray the dreams and visions of this youthful American president.
The Visions of Liberty concert takes place on the OBU campus, Potter Auditorium in Raley Chapel on April 30, 2013, 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.
The Thompson work uses selected texts from the writings of the 3rd American president, Thomas Jefferson, including those in letters written to John Adams, the 2nd American president and a harsh political rival of Jefferson's. In later years, they put aside their differences and became close allies and friends, and in the end, both died on the same day - July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. His words are full of hope for America, for the liberty fought for and won, and for the generations of Americans who would benefit from the birth-pains of a new country.
Handel wrote four anthems to commemorate the crowning of King George II in 1727. Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened is the second in this series, although there is some confusion over the order of performance of the four anthems. With texts from the Psalms and a wonderful, rousing "Alleluia" as a closing movement, Handel celebrates both the succession of power in his adopted country and the knowledge that God should be praised and honored by its leaders.
The Glow From That Fire is meant to both celebrate the hopeful optimism of President John F. Kennedy, by using much of his 1961 Inaugural Address as primary text as well as memorializing the man -- 50 years after his untimely and very public death. The five-movement work utilizes both the Kennedy speech with passages from the traditional Requiem Mass, and joins forces with an alto soloist, a narrator, choir, and orchestra to portray the dreams and visions of this youthful American president.
The Visions of Liberty concert takes place on the OBU campus, Potter Auditorium in Raley Chapel on April 30, 2013, 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Benefits to singing in a choir
I wonder if we realize all that singing in a choir does for us. Why do we do it? Check out http://www.choirplace.com/blogs/78/198/there-are-plenty-of-good-reasons and see how many directly relate to you.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
We're off and singing!
The choirs are set and it going to be a TONALLY awesome year! Thank you to everyone who auditioned either during this past academic year or last week. Please adjust your schedules to reflect the choir in which you sing.
We'll see if we get any rain in the next few days which will enable us to have our All-Choirs Cookout next Thursday, 8/30....we'll keep you posted.
We'll see if we get any rain in the next few days which will enable us to have our All-Choirs Cookout next Thursday, 8/30....we'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Fall Choral Auditions!
Prior to the start of the fall semester, we will
be holding auditions for the 2012-13 OBU choral ensembles. These
groups include the University Chorale, Bison Glee Club, and Bisonette
Glee Club. Here's what the choral audition will look like:
1. Vocalizing to test your range--to see how high and how low you can sing. We're trying to determine which voice part you are most comfortable singing.
2. Hearing you sing a selection of your choosing with piano accompaniment. This can be anything ranging from something you've sung for solo contest (art song) to a simple folk song, Broadway tune or maybe just a stanza of a hymn. We just want to hear a good example of your solo voice. A pianist will be provided.
3. Testing your ability to sight-read your part on a short piece of music.
That's it! Come early to your audition to fill out an information sheet.
Auditions will be Tuesday, August 21st from 2:00-6:00 p.m. They will be held in Raley Chapel room 141. To sign up for an audition time, go to the Fall Audition "Google Doc" by clicking here. PLEASE try to sign up next to someone so as not to create gaps.
WE'VE ALSO ADDED TIMES ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22ND BEGINNING AT 1:00 P.M. COME ON!!! (Still click "here" above)
Contact Dr. Ballweg at brent.ballweg@okbu.edu if you have any questions. Looking forward to a GREAT 2012-13!
1. Vocalizing to test your range--to see how high and how low you can sing. We're trying to determine which voice part you are most comfortable singing.
2. Hearing you sing a selection of your choosing with piano accompaniment. This can be anything ranging from something you've sung for solo contest (art song) to a simple folk song, Broadway tune or maybe just a stanza of a hymn. We just want to hear a good example of your solo voice. A pianist will be provided.
3. Testing your ability to sight-read your part on a short piece of music.
That's it! Come early to your audition to fill out an information sheet.
Auditions will be Tuesday, August 21st from 2:00-6:00 p.m. They will be held in Raley Chapel room 141. To sign up for an audition time, go to the Fall Audition "Google Doc" by clicking here. PLEASE try to sign up next to someone so as not to create gaps.
WE'VE ALSO ADDED TIMES ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22ND BEGINNING AT 1:00 P.M. COME ON!!! (Still click "here" above)
Contact Dr. Ballweg at brent.ballweg@okbu.edu if you have any questions. Looking forward to a GREAT 2012-13!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Spring Choral Auditions
We will be holding auditions for the 2012-13 OBU choral ensembles in May. These groups include the University Chorale, Bison Glee Club, and Bisonette Glee Club. Here's what the choral audition will look like:
1. Vocalizing to test your range--to see how high and how low you can sing. We're trying to determine which voice part you are most comfortable singing.
2. If you CURRENTLY sing in an OBU choral ensemble: Hearing you sing your part on a section from a piece in your current repertoire. You will also have the OPTION to additionally sing a solo selection of your choosing.
If you are NOT currently singing in an OBU choral ensemble: Hearing you sing a selection of your choosing with piano accompaniment. This can be anything ranging from something you've sung for solo contest (art song) to a simple folk song, Broadway tune or maybe just a stanza of a hymn. We just want to hear a good example of your solo voice. A pianist will be provided.
3. Testing your ability to sight-read your part on a short piece of music.
That's it! Come early to your audition to fill out an information sheet.
Auditions will be Wednesday, May 2nd from 1:00-5:00 p.m. and Thursday, May 3rd from 2:00-5:00 p.m. They will be held in Raley Chapel room 141. To schedule an audition time, go to the "YouCanBook.Me" site by clicking here. PLEASE try to sign up next to someone so as not to create gaps.
Contact Dr. Ballweg at brent.ballweg@okbu.edu if you have any questions. Looking forward to a GREAT 2012-13!
1. Vocalizing to test your range--to see how high and how low you can sing. We're trying to determine which voice part you are most comfortable singing.
2. If you CURRENTLY sing in an OBU choral ensemble: Hearing you sing your part on a section from a piece in your current repertoire. You will also have the OPTION to additionally sing a solo selection of your choosing.
If you are NOT currently singing in an OBU choral ensemble: Hearing you sing a selection of your choosing with piano accompaniment. This can be anything ranging from something you've sung for solo contest (art song) to a simple folk song, Broadway tune or maybe just a stanza of a hymn. We just want to hear a good example of your solo voice. A pianist will be provided.
3. Testing your ability to sight-read your part on a short piece of music.
That's it! Come early to your audition to fill out an information sheet.
Auditions will be Wednesday, May 2nd from 1:00-5:00 p.m. and Thursday, May 3rd from 2:00-5:00 p.m. They will be held in Raley Chapel room 141. To schedule an audition time, go to the "YouCanBook.Me" site by clicking here. PLEASE try to sign up next to someone so as not to create gaps.
Contact Dr. Ballweg at brent.ballweg@okbu.edu if you have any questions. Looking forward to a GREAT 2012-13!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Movement while singing
Excellent performance by Riverside City College Chamber Singers. Is their movement enhancing or distracting? I tend to think the former as they appear to be totally involved in the music. Perhaps you can allow your body (and mind) to be more connected to your singing and to the music!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=Vonr6zq3Veg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=Vonr6zq3Veg
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