|
Saint Cecilia would have been proud to hear the voices that will rise up this Sunday in song, so perfect in pitch and melody that they could have come from heaven itself.
Sunday is the Roman Catholic feast day of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians. To celebrate, the Winona Oratorio Chorus will present its fall concert, honoring both Saint Cecilia and modern day music teachers who are alive and well right here in Winona.
As part of the Oratorio Chorus’ 31st season, A Concert to Saint Cecilia weaves voices and instruments together to show off the importance of a music education, with five featured soloists who learned their musical scales from teachers in town.
Vocalists Kyle Ellinghuysen, Maria Kujawa, Bryan Mechell, cellist Rachel Ryan and pianist Christopher Mechell represent the pinnacle of music mastery, each a star in respected musical circles.
Returning to a Winona stage to perform pays homage to the public and private music teachers who listened to them perform their first tenuous notes, nurturing them through until those musical notes ran in their blood.
Hailing from Winona Area Public Schools, Cotter, home schooling and private teachers, the soloists have a message to share through their performance: They could be any kids sitting in a music room right now, and if not for their music teacher, they would not be where they are.
The soloists will perform next to the Winona State University Concert Choir and the Oratorio Chorus, a community-based collection of vocalists who come from all walks of life.
The Oratorio Chorus includes the voices of 46 such community members directed by Dr. Harry Mechell.
Together they will perform Messe Solennelle de Sainte Cecile by Charles Gounod, Choral Fantasy by Beethoven and Lament by Joseph Twist.
Each piece was selected to showcase the talents of vocalists and instrumentalists, who will be accompanied by an orchestra comprised of local musicians.
The concert is slated for Sunday, November 22, at 3 p.m. on the main stage at the WSU Performing Arts Center. Tickets purchased in advance are $12 for general admission, $10 for seniors and students and $5 for children 12 and under. Ticket prices at the door will be $15, $12 and $6.
|
