University Singers Prepare for Composer’s Premiere at Music Festival

The Southwestern Adventist University Singers are preparing for the premiere of Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds’ newest choral composition.  The song was written exclusively for the University Singers, and will be performed at the Meyerson Symphony Center as part of the University’s annual Music Festival.  The annual Music Festival culminates with the traditional concert on Sunday, Feb. 26 featuring SWAU’s Festival Choir and Symphony Orchestra. The concert benefits music scholarships for students of all academic disciplines.  The University Singers had the opportunity to do a clinic with Ešenvalds last year, and are very excited to be working with him again.

Ešenvalds has climbed his way to the top of the composing world, having won multiple awards for his many compositions. His pieces are performed on almost every continent, and he has commissioned pieces for many major choirs around the world. The Southwestern University Singers will be the latest addition to those choirs.

Jonathan Wall, chair of the music department and choir director, will be leading and attending his eighth Meyerson performance this year. Wall has been part of this ensemble since he arrived at Southwestern in 2010. “Being able to perform at the Meyerson with my choir students is always such a great honor and one of the performances I look forward to every year,” says Wall.

According to Wall, being part of something amazing like the Meyerson brings a lot of great moments and memories, but there is one that stands out in particular to him. “Seeing the face of gratitude and the aspect of hard work from my students pay off after they perform is the best feeling and memory I get to experience every time we perform at the Meyerson,” says Wall.

The evening will also feature soloist Raehann Bryce-Davis, a native Texan from the DFW area and alumna from Chisholm Trail Academy, who is the winner of the 2016 Richard F. Gold Career Grant, the 2015 9th International Hilder Zadek Competition at the Musikverein in Vienna, the 2015 Metropolitan Opera National Council Pittsburgh District, the 2015 Sedat Gürel - Güzin Gürel International Voice Competition in Istanbul, and is currently performing dynamic roles in Belgium as a part of the Opera Vlassnderen.

This year A Night at the Meyerson takes place on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. and you can now purchase tickets at swau.edu/musicfestival. Tickets will also be sold at the Meyerson box office the night of the concert starting at 6:00pm but seats may be limited by then.

The authors Herman Aguilar, Jordan Greene, and Elanith Wong are communication majors at Southwestern Adventist University. 

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