All-Stravinsky Program Features Ritual, Memorial and a Struggle Between Good and Evil, September 24 at 8PM

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Michael Votta Conducts the UMD Chamber Singers and U.S. Army Field Band at Clarice Smith Center

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Sarah Snyder
ssnyder3@umd.edu
(301) 405-8151

College Park, MD -- The University of Maryland School of Music and The U.S. Army Field Band bring Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat (A Soldier’s Tale) to life in an all-Stravinsky concert on Monday, September 24 at 8PM, featuring the members of the U.S. Army Concert Band and Soldiers’ Chorus along with the UMD Chamber Singers. UMD faculty artist Michael Votta and SSG Christopher Blossom will conduct.

A Soldier’s Tale tells the story of a soldier who trades his fiddle to the devil for a book that predicts the future, and the devil emerges triumphant. According to Stravinsky, A Soldier’s Tale, which is based on a Russian folk tale, is meant to be “read, played and danced.” Also on the program: Mass, Stravinsky's 19-minute setting of the Roman Catholic mass.

A Special Collaboration

In addition to performing two of Stravinsky’s greatest works, this concert marks a special collaboration between the UMD School of Music and the U.S. Army Field Band. Conductor Michael Votta, Chair of the Wind and Percussion Division, notes, “The artistry and talent that The Soldiers' Chorus and Army Field Band bring to this collaboration is invaluable in preparing our students for a professional music career, and the experience of making music together will be incredibly meaningful for us all.”

About the U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus

As the premier touring musical representative for the United States Army, the U.S. Army Field Band travels thousands of miles each year presenting a variety of music to audiences throughout the nation and abroad, fostering support of the armed forces at home and enhancing diplomatic efforts around the world.

About the UMD Chamber Singers Founded in 2001 by music director Edward Maclary, the UMD Chamber Singers is one of the leading choral ensembles in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Chosen by audition from the undergraduate and graduate populations at UMD, the Chamber Singers present concerts on and off campus throughout the year.

About the UMD Chamber Singers

Founded in 2001 by music director Edward Maclary, the UMD Chamber Singers is one of the leading choral ensembles in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Chosen by audition from the undergraduate and graduate populations at UMD, the Chamber Singers present concerts on and off campus throughout the year.

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The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive. An agency of the Department of Business & Economic Development, the MSAC provides financial support and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations, units of government, colleges and universities for arts activities. Funding for the Maryland State Arts Council is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Learn more about the Clarice Smith Center's donor support.