The Lycoming College Tour Choir’s first tour under the direction of Christopher Jackson, D.M.A., director of choral activities and assistant professor of music, will begin Friday, Feb. 28 at the Charlton United Methodist Church at 7:30 p.m. in Harrisburg, Pa. During the trip, the choir will visit at least one area high school each day. According to Jackson, this type of educational outreach is central to the choir’s goal of creating a greater sense of community among all levels of music education.
The seven-day tour also will include performances Saturday, March 1 at 5:15 p.m. at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.; Sunday, March 2 at 7 p.m. at Damascus United Methodist Church in Damascus, Md.; Monday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church in Frederick, Md.; Tuesday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Shillington, Pa.; Thursday, March 6 at 8 p.m. at the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in Bridgewater, N.J. and will conclude Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m. at Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Del.
The tour choir will hold its “homecoming” concert on Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m. in the college’s Clarke Chapel.
The choir’s repertoire consists of both sacred and secular music, ranging from classical standards and new works by contemporary composers, to folk and modern styles. The first half of the concerts will explore exciting combinations of new and old, featuring works by Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Tallis, as well as contemporary works by Arvo Pärt and fellow Baltic composer Vaclovas Augustinas. Of particular interest is the progression of rhythmic complexity from the opening pieces of the concert to the ethereal center piece, Solfeggio. The concerts also will feature international folk songs, a new composition by Westminster Choir College alumnus Nathan Jones and arrangements of American hymns and spirituals.
Since its inception in 1947 by Walter McIver, the choir has presented concerts in every state east of the Mississippi River, as well as California, Texas, Louisiana, Canada, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Europe. Foreign tours occur approximately every three years.
The tour choir is selected each year by competitive audition from the 105-voice college choir, which is comprised of students from all academic fields. Forty students are chosen annually to perform in two weekend tours and a 10-day spring break tour.
Lycoming College is a four-year, residential liberal arts and sciences school dedicated to the undergraduate education of 1,400 students. Its rigorous academic program, vibrant residential community and supportive faculty foster successful student outcomes. Lycoming offers 36 academic majors and is recognized as a Tier 1 institution by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1812 and located near the banks of the Susquehanna River in Williamsport, Pa., Lycoming is one of the 50 oldest colleges in the nation. For more information, visit www.lycoming.edu.