FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2005

CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu

DRAKE CHOIRS TO PERFORM MARCH 13 CONCERT
EXPLORING ISSUES OF FAITH, HOPE AND IMMORTALITY

The Drake University Choir and Chamber Choir will perform a concert titled "This World is not Conclusion" at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 13, on the Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main, 25th Street and University Avenue.

The title comes from an Emily Dickinson poem that grapples with issues of faith, hope, peace and immortality. "The concert features a number of works that address these issues, each from a different perspective," said Aimee Beckmann-Collier, director of the choirs and professor of conducting at Drake.

The Drake Choir will premiere a setting of "This World is not Conclusion," which was written by New York composer John Armstrong, who will conduct the premiere.

The concert will also feature the premiere of "Petals" by Drake Choir member George Marie, a senior from Washington, Iowa.
The Chamber Choir will sing contemporary settings of Renaissance texts, including "Three from Shakespeare" by Minnesota composer David Dickau and "From an Unknown Past," a song cycle in seven movements by American composer Ned Rorem.

All works on the program are pieces written within the past 60 years. The concert will begin with the first movement of John Rutter's "Gloria" for brass, percussion, organ and chorus.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call (515) 271-3975.

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