Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Concert Choir will debut their Austria Tour program on Thursday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Manning Chapel of the Paul and Jane Meyer Christian Studies Center on the UMHB campus. This event is free and open to the public.
In May the choir will spend a week in Austria, performing in several of the world’s most historic cathedrals in Salzburg, Melk, Mondsee, and Vienna.
“With so many performances in Catholic cathedrals, we will be singing several songs about Mary,” Dr. Michelle Roueché,, Director of Choral Studies, said. “Our Virgin Mary set includes music by Rachmaninoff, Arvo Pärt, and John Tavener.”
Roueché also wanted to promote Randall Thompson, one of the finest American composers of choral music, to their Austrian audiences. Concerts will include two pieces by Thompson, Pueri Hebraeorum and his beloved masterpiece Alleluia.
“We were informed that Austrian concert-goers would be very disappointed if we did not perform some spirituals for them, so we will conclude with a wide variety of spirituals” Roueché said. “Our final piece is a jazzy setting of He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, definitely the perfect message to share with our audiences across the globe.”
Seating is for the performance is expected to be limited. Audiences are encouraged to arrive twenty to thirty minutes before the start of the concert.
