Spectacular University High School Choir performs May 1

Lirico Chamber Singers, one of University High School's two performing choirs

On Friday May 1st at 7:30 p..m, University High School from Spokane, WA, will present a concert at the Orcas School Old Gym, hosted by the Orcas School Music Program.

This concert is free of charge, and will consist of two of University High School’s top performance ensembles: Delos Concert Choir and the Lirico Chamber Singers, conducted by director Russell Seaton. Both choirs encompass music from all over the world, including music of many genres such as multi-cultural, gospel, spiritual, classical, and sacred.

Delos has over 90 singers in the choir, and Lirico keeps with the traditional chamber choir size of 20 students. Both perform music of the collegiate level, along with original compositions by director Seaton.

High-spirited and captivating, these groups present at 60-minute whirlwind of colorful choral sound.

Director Russell Seaton has been Director of Choirs and Music Theory at University High School in Spokane since 2000. He is also director of the Spokane Area Boychoir and Cambiata. He currently serves on the board of the Washington Music Educator’s Association, and is a member of the Washington chapter of the American Choral Director’s Association. He has taken the Lirico Chamber Singers to Ireland and Italy recently and in 2010 they will visit Germany and Austria.

Russell is also a member of MEN, Male Ensemble Northwest, a performing group made up of some of the finest choral directors in the Northwest. On this tour, the Choir will visit Ellensburg and Anacortes as well as Orcas Island. More information about the choirs can be found at www.uhighchoir.org.

Earlier on May 1, the choirs, which are made up of 10th- through 12th- grade students, will perform for the entire school at an assembly at 2 p.m. This visit, being hosted by the Orcas School Music Program and music teacher Lizz Hanks, is an event she has been excited about sharing with the community.

“Russell Seaton is a top-notch director who has garnered the respect of his colleagues nationwide. The work he does with his students is awesome. I hope we’ll have a great audience at the evening performance to enjoy their music!”

Once again, Music Booster parents and community members will serve dinner for the 100 choir members in the school cafeteria at 5pm that evening before their concert. Music Booster coordinator Marian O’Brien says, “We would appreciate any help with dinner preparations and serving. Please contact me at 1402, or marian@bokubooks.com, if you would like to join in the fun.

Our students are being treated to an unparalleled musical experience with this visit from the Delos Concert Choir and the Lirico Chamber Singers. The quality level of the choirs and the dedication and talent of these 90 students is inspiring, delightful and heart-warming. We are so looking forward to sharing the day with them.”

The Lirico Chamber Singers, shown below, will also be performing in the afternoon at 3:30 at the Orcas Center opening show of student art, along with the Orcas Chamber Players, which consists of high school students and community musicians.