University of Utah Singers


The University of Utah Singers was the premier choral ensemble at the University of Utah until 2010. The ensemble was organized in 2003 by Dr. Brady R. Allred. Composed of approximately 45 voices, the ensemble performed repertoire from a wide range of musical styles and eras. In their short history, UU Singers achieved both national and international acclaim, winning the Grand Prize at the 2005 -International Choir Competition in Tours, France; winning the Choral Competition in Tolosa, Spain;in 2006, winning first prize at the 11th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf in 2009, participating in the 19th in France and the 37th near Jerusalem. UU Singers performed in concerts throughout England, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany and Israel on five international concert tours, and have appeared on French national television at the .
In addition to their international appearances, UU Singers performed at division and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and and was featured locally at state events, such as the inauguration of Governor Olene S. Walker, the 2004 opening session of the Utah State Senate and the dedication ceremony of the Marriott Library with former first lady Laura Bush. They have collaborated with the Grammy Award-winning Kronos Quartet and also collaborated regularly with Utah-based groups, including the 23rd Army Band, the, the Brigham Young University Singers and Concert Choir and the University of Utah Philharmonic, Wind Ensemble, A Cappella Choir and Women's Choir. They have performed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the Assembly Hall on Temple Square and the Cathedral of the Madeleine.
UU Singers premiered several new works, including William Hawley's “Flos ut rosa Floruit,” for which they received a prize for the best new work at the Tours competition. In 2007, they were selected by the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition to premiere Judith Bingham's “Ghost Towns of the American West” as part of an international performing consortium of choirs which included VocalEssence and the BBC Singers. In February 2009, UU Singers premiered new commission "Hail Holy Light" by, in April 2009, they premiered new commission "Endless Song" by Imant Raminsh and in 2010 "Pa Kin Kin" by Guido Lopez Gavilan.
Since Dr. Allred's departure from the university at the end of 2010, this now 28-voice ensemble is conducted by professor . The ensemble is now known as the University of Utah Chamber Choir, renamed in 2012 in honor of Dr. Bernell W. Hales. The University of Utah Chamber Choir continues the high standards of musicianship and performance he set.

Performances, Awards and Events

  • Participated in the 37th in Israel - May 2010
  • Performed at the Western Division Convention of the American Choral Directors Association, Tucson, AZ - March 2010
  • Won first prize in the 11th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf, special prize for best interpretation of a premiered work and served as the demonstration choir for the International Masterclass for Choral Conductors - June 2009
  • Performed Terry Riley's "Sun Rings" with the Grammy Award-winning Kronos Quartet - November 2008
  • Participated in the 12th International Choir Festival en Provence, France - July 2007
  • Participated in the Festival des Choeurs Lauréats, Vaison, France - July 2007
  • Participated in the 19th France - August 2007
  • Performed at the American Choral Directors Association Western Division Convention, Salt Lake City, UT - 2006
  • Performed at the National Convention, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Won the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, International Choir Competition, Tolosa, Spain June 2006
  • Won several awards at the International Choir Competition, Tours, France - May 2005:
  • *Grand Prix de la Ville de Tours
  • *Le Premier Prix in the Free Program
  • *La Deuxieme Prix in the Mixed Choir category
  • *Le prix "Ronsard" for the Renaissance Program
  • *Le prix "A Coeur Joie International" for the best French diction during the competition
  • *Prix "OEuvre de Creation" for the best newly composed work in the competition.
  • Participated in the, Nancy, France
  • Performed concerts in San Sébastien, Palais de Congrès, Salle Poirel, Centre Culturel, Pulnoy, Nancy Cathedral and Place Stanislas
  • Other major performances around the world:
  • *Vleuten, Utrecht, Weert, Venlo—The Netherlands
  • *Nancy, Tours, Paris, Brunoy, Strasbourg, Reiquewihr—France
  • *Munich—Germany
  • *Padova, Dolo, Venice, Palaiai, Florence, Mantova—Italy
  • *High Wycombe, Watlington, Oxford, Wlverhampton, Birmingham-England

History

The "Singers" was an outgrowth of the University of Utah Chamber Choir, the original premier small choral ensemble at the University of Utah, which was conducted for years by Dr. Bernell Hales and generally had around twenty members performing music from various periods from Gregorian Chant and early Renaissance to modern, both sacred and secular, music in numerous languages. During his 21-year tenure conducting the Chamber Choir and teaching classes at the U, Professor Hales was known as an accomplished choral music arranger as well as a great and gifted musician. "Many current music educators were influenced by Dr. Hales as they took his choral methods, choral arranging, orchestration, elementary music methods, and other classes."
Of key importance to Dr. Hales was the concept of vowel modification and blending, and his choirs could be so in tune as to produce overtones. He was a conductor who brought the music to life through his techniques. Many of his students went on to conduct choirs at the public school as well as university level, teaching what they had been taught.

Recordings

UU Singers has recorded 11 solo albums:
  • Endless Song
  • Alleluia - Sacred Choral Music
  • Cloths of Heaven
  • Carol of Joy
  • How Can I Keep From Singing?
  • If Music Be the Food of Love
  • Christmastide
  • Home on the Range
  • A Jubilant Song
  • Christmas Morn
  • i thank You God for most this amazing day''

Videos

Watch live performance videos on the, which include:

News & Reviews

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