Philharmonic Chorale ‘Mainly Mozart’ Concert Friday

On Friday, October 27, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. the Texas A&M International University Philharmonic Chorale will present its Fall Concert, “Mainly Mozart,” at the TAMIU Center for the Fine & Performing Arts Recital Hall.

Admission is free and the public is invited.

The Concert celebrates the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth in 1756. The central part of the program will be the “Organ Solo” Mass - or, more accurately, the Missa Brevis in C Major K 259. There will also be some solos and other chorale works to further enlighten the audience.

“This is a gloriously simple Mass setting,” said conductor Brendan Townsend, “and comes from a time when brevity was right next to godliness in the eyes of the Archbishop of Salzburg.”

The TAMIU Philharmonic Chorale is a joint choir made up of the Laredo Philharmonic Chorale and the TAMIU Chorale. The two joined in a unique educational collaborative this past August.

Townsend, who became music director of the Laredo Philharmonic Chorale in 2005, also took over as the director of the TAMIU Chorale this Fall. The two ensembles meet at the same time, share resources and offer TAMIU students the opportunity to sing a greater range of repertoire through the larger group collaboration.

“The students have really benefited from this arrangement,” Townsend explained, “Additionally, I am able to provide these young future music educators with the experience of leading sectional rehearsals, etc.”

The TAMIU choristers will be the soloists throughout the Mass setting.

Soprano Jessica Cardenas, a TAMIU junior who is no stranger to the stage after her lead role in last Spring's “Taffetas” production, is very excited about this performance.

“Mozart's writing for the voice is so effective and so great to sing!” she said.

For more information on this performance, contact Townsend at 326-3039 or e-mail btownsend@tamiu.edu

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu