LEWISTON, Idaho – The Lewis-Clark State College Concert Choir has been invited to sing at the Lincoln Center in New York next June as both part of a festival choir and to perform “Song of the Salish Chief.”
The performances will be held June 1-4 in Alice Tully Hall in the Lincoln Center.
The LCSC Concert Choir will be in residency with singers from around the country to sing with renowned conductor Rene Clausen on his setting of “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.” This will be the first half of the program, while the second half will consist of the LCSC choir’s performance of “Song of the Salish Chief,” which unites Western classical music with Native American arts.
“Song of the Salish Chief” is a 25-minute oval composition with an instrumental accompaniment written in 1986 by Canadian composer Peter Berring for the centennial of Vancouver, British Columbia. The text is based on a 1954 radio play by Earl Birney, evoking the life of the Salish people from pre-settler days through the rise and domination of the settlers. Berring, an accomplished jazz musician, combined syncopated rhythms with soft harmonies in the work. It consists of six movements of music with narration in between each movement.
Sarah Graham, assistant professor of music at LCSC, said this is an exciting opportunity for the choir. She said she was in conversation with officials from the Manhattan Concert Productions about other topics in the spring of 2017, and an official touched base with her again last spring. Graham said the call came the day after the LCSC Concert Choir’s performance of “Song of the Salish Chief” and she explained what the piece was about. The official said the piece is exactly what the Manhattan Concert Productions was looking for to feature in one of its debut programs, according to Graham.
Graham said she sent recordings by the choir to the officials, which resulted in the invitation.
The LCSC Concert Choir is composed of LCSC students as well as members of the community.
“This is a real unique opportunity for us since we aren’t a traditional college choir that tours annually,” Graham said.
To help offset travel expenses for the choir, donations can be made through the LCSC Foundation office, Att: Choir-NY, by calling 208-792-2458, or mailing a check or money order to LCSC Foundation, 500 8th Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501.