Rebecca Seger to Perform at New York City's Carnegie Hall as Member of EKU Choral Group

2013 Feb 28

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

Join the University Singers at Eastern Kentucky University.

Of course, as the old joke goes, it does help to practice, and 31 EKU students, including Rebecca Seger of Jacksonville (28540), will realize the benefits of all their hard work and experience a "once-in-lifetime opportunity" Monday, April 8, when they perform in the fabled New York City concert venue.

Under the direction of Dr. Richard Waters, the University Singers will perform six selections as part of a program that also features a large masterworks choir comprised of singers from across the U.S.

"We submitted recordings of some of our performances from last year to Manhattan Concert Productions, a New York-based company that brings together ensembles from across the country to perform at some of the world's greatest concert venues," Waters said. "Based on those recordings, we were invited by MCP to perform on their concert series."

The students have held several fund-raisers to support the trip, partnering with Old Kentucky Chocolates, Belk and Applebees. In addition, as a result of performances throughout the region, the group has received assistance from the Cecilian Club, Appalachian Children's Home, Centenary United Methodist Church in Lexington, and individual donors.

The premier choral ensemble at EKU, the University Singers are comprised of singers selected on the basis of auditions at the beginning of each fall semester.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students to perform in one of the world's most revered concert halls," Waters said. "The students in the University Singers recognize and embrace their role as representatives and ambassadors for the University, the community of Richmond, and the state of Kentucky whenever they go on tour."

Since it opened in 1891, Carnegie Hall has "been the premier classical music performance in the United States," Waters said. "Every major performer of the last 120 years has graced its stage. The chance to make music in the same space as Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Horowitz, Copland, Bernstein and Pavarotti is extraordinary."

The University Singers will perform "Christus est natus," by Damijan Mocnik; "God Is Gone Up," by Ned Rorem; "Nelly Bly," arranged by John Halloran; "Ne Sedi, Djemo," a Bosnian folk song arranged by Steven Sametz; "Fountain of Life;" a new composition that Waters wrote specifically for University Singers; and "I Can Feel the Spirit," by Jeffery Ames.

In addition to the Carnegie Hall performance, the EKU group also will provide music for a Sunday worship service at Christ Church Riverdale in the Bronx, where EKU alum Tim Brumfield is director of music. The students will also have time to attend opera and/or Broadway performances and see other Big Apple sights.