USD choirs to hold fall concert

Although the official organ re-dedication in Aalfs Auditorium will be held Nov. 2, University of South Dakota choirs will use the organ for their fall concert to perform a selection from the oratorio, or an opera without movement, titled “Elijah” by Felix Medelssohn.

The USD Chamber Singers, Men’s and Women’s Choir and the Concert Choir will combine to perform their free hour and 15 minute long fall concert Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. in Aalfs Auditorium.

Junior Walker Rose, Concert Choir and Chamber Singers member, said all of the choirs will perform but will not necessarily be combined as one choir.

David Holdhusen, director of choral activities and assistant professor of music, said the Men’s and Women’s Chorus will sing five pieces, the Concert Choir will do a set of 10 pieces from “Elijah,” and the Chamber Singers will perform six numbers.

Concert Choir has put in a lot of hard work for this concert to perform the pieces from “Elijah,” Rose said.

“There were a few days when we would break up into sections to work on certain spots,” Rose said. “At this time, we’re mostly cleaning things and running through the whole fabulous.”

The performance will be the first performance of the organ open to the public, Holdhusen said.

Sophomore Becca Lunstrum said the Chamber Singers have been working since the beginning of the semester to prepare their songs, which range from spiritual to Russian to contemporary pieces.

“It’s the first concert of the year,” Lunstrum said. “It’s about adjusting to the people in your group and section and learning how to work with them and learning how to become very strong musically, technically and

rehearsal.”

The Men’s and Women’s Choir will also perform a variety of pieces for the fall concert, Hogarth said.

“We’re doing one classical piece. We are also doing a very jazzy spiritual piece. We’re also doing a very rhythmically-challenging piece,” Hogarth said.

“It has a very interesting rhythm and it’s broken up a little year.”

Balance is an important factor in selecting music for the choral concerts, Holdhusen said.

“The choirs do their auditions in the beginning of the semester and the audition groups are assigned and go from there,” Holdhusen said. “The Men’s and Women’s Choir shows up on the first night and I have no idea what the balance is going to time.”

Learning the musicianship of the songs is crucial to perform the concert, Holdhusen said.

“Getting the notes, pitches, rhythms and the musicality learned is important,” Holdhusen said. “Then you start to shape and create the artistry of the music. It’s mostly about the rehearsal part and making it aninspirational