AWC fall concert promises enchanted evening

  Arizona Western College invites the Yuma community to its annual Early Fall Choral Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 16th Street and 14th Avenue.

  "The concerts usually fill to capacity so it is recommended to arrive early," said Dr. Chuck Smalley, AWC choral and vocal music professor.

  No reservations or tickets are required but a $5 donation is asked, he said. All the proceeds go toward tuition or private music lessons. Seating at St. Paul's can accommodate about 300, he noted.

  The concert will open with the AWC Youth Choir directed by Dr. Beth Tibbs. The Youth Choir includes students from the fourth grade up to college level and has about 40 members. The choir recently returned from a European tour this summer.

  "It was amazing," Tibbs said of the tour. "Everything about it was a positive experience. We got to sing at the top of the Eiffel Tower and at the Notre Dame Cathedral."

  The Youth Choir will perform "Inspiration of Hope" composed by Randal Stroope, written in commemoration of the Holocaust as well as an American Spiritual, "This Little Light of Mine."

  The AWC Chamber Singers will perform a repertoire ranging from folk music to madrigals. Of special interest is an arrangement of "Mother Goose Madrigals" that offers a new twist on familiar nursery rhymes such as "Pop Goes the Weasel" and "The Bear Went Over The Mountain." In addition, the folk piece "Shenandoah" and a beautiful setting for the Spanish song "Nanita Lullaby" will be presented.

  "We have very strong singers in the choir this semester," Smalley said. "This is the group you want your music majors in."

   The Chamber Singers are comprised of 32 singers who had to pass an audition before being accepted into the ensemble, Smalley noted.

  The Yuma Chorale, a community nonauditioned ensemble will close the program. The chorale is open to interested performers and is comprised of about 40 singers, many of whom are teachers, working professionals and retirees. When the winter visitors arrive in Yuma, the chorale grows to about 65 members, Smalley said.

  "There is no theme for this performance," he said of the Oct. 10 concert. "It's a mixed bag of music. It's a little bit unusual with some real nice settings, and we have a few musical surprises I believe will delight the audience."

  Along with secular, some sacred music will be performed. Three portions of the "Missa Festiva," a Latin piece composed in the early 1990s by John Leavitt for High Mass (Christmas and Easter) will be included. There will also be a traditional spiritual, "Slow Me Down, Lord."

  The Chamber Singers will be accompanied by pianist Nate Biggler, while pianist Sharon Hayes will accompany the Yuma Chorale.

  For more information about the concert, call Smalley at 344-7574.

  "We encourage everyone in the community who can to attend because it is going to be such beautiful music," Smalley said.

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William Roller can be reached at
wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.