Ohio Northern University Singers, Defiance College Choral Union to perform combined concerts

The University Singers from Ohio Northern University and the Defiance College Choral Union are joining forces for the first time for two combined concerts. The first concert will be Sunday, March 27, at 3:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Lima, and the second concert will be Saturday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m. at St. John Church of Christ in Defiance.

Both concerts are free and open to the public.

At the Lima concert, the University Singers will present several selections from their recent tour to Florida under the direction of associate director Timothy Smith, a senior music education major from Westerville, Ohio, and assistant conductors Eric Smith, a senior music performance major from Toledo, Ohio, and Brianna Bizzaro, a senior music education major from Port Allegany, Pa. At the Defiance concert, the Choral Union will present several selections by American composer Randall Thompson under the direction of Andrew Schultz, director of music programs at Defiance College and an ONU graduate.

The choirs will combine on four selections from Paul Basler’s “Songs of Faith,” including “Be Thou My Vision,” “Ubi Caritas,” “The Lord is My Shepherd” and “Alleluia.” They also will combine on Forrest’s “You Are the Music” and Stroope’s “Lamentations of Jeremiah.” Playing for the combined works will be ONU students Adam Fahncke, a senior management major from Wapakoneta, Ohio, on piano and Maggie Sant, a second-year pharmacy major from West Chester, Ohio, on French horn. Schultz will conduct the combined choirs.

The 46-voice select choir from Ohio Northern University is under the direction of Dennis L. Kratzer, director of choral activities and professor of music. The 50-voice choir from Defiance College is under the direction of Schultz.

Published: Mon, 03/14/2011 - 11:29am