The Outstanding UM Chamber Chorale Will Tour Europe This Year

The 36 singers of the UM Chamber Chorale have been invited to an international choral competition in Europe. Coreen Duffy, University of Montana Choral Activities Director, said this is the first time the chamber chorale has competed in an international competition. The group will sing mostly a cappella music in Great Britain and Germany in May and June.

Their first performances of the tour will be at Cadogan Hall and Southwark Cathedral in London, England. Then, it's off to Germany, with a performance exchange at the University of Saarbrucken. The main competition segment of their trip will be at The International Choral Competition Marktoberdorf.

But there's more. After the competition, the singers have been invited to serve as the masterclass choir for the International Choral Conducting Masterclass with famous conductors Georg Grun and Ko Matsushita. Following that, performances at Munich and at the Dachau concentration camp will lead up to a final performance at Missoula's sister city in Germany, Neckargamund, before coming back to Missoula, Montana.

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Even before the European tour, the UM Chamber Chorale has been honored with a regional performance at the Northwestern American Choral Directors Association conference in Spokane, Washington, next month.

Duffy, in a news release, said, "This is an incredible milestone for our students and institution." She enjoys conducting the chorale. "In many ways, this is a dream job for me. Sometimes I pinch myself. Being part of the choral program at the University of Montana and getting to work in this field with these students is so incredibly rewarding."

She said the UM School of Music auditions students every year, including those who are not music majors. For instance, this year's chorale includes students who are majoring in wildlife biology, education, and neuroscience.

The choir is raising money for the many expenses in the European tour and for more information call 406 243-6880. You can find more about the group at UM news report.