NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – This summer, the University of Oklahoma’s Men’s Glee Club and Women’s Chorus made their international debut with performances at three historic Irish venues: St. Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney, Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. Joseph’s Church. The trip marked their participation in the American Celebration of Music in Ireland, a worldwide concert series featuring top choral groups.
“These performances were the first international appearances by two OU choirs and offered a fantastic opportunity for the University of Oklahoma to shine on a global stage, introducing the University of Oklahoma to new audiences 5,000 miles away. It was truly a wonderful experience,” said David Howard, D.M.A., associate director of OU’s choral activities.
Howard describes St. Patrick’s Cathedral as breathtaking. “With floor area of over 21,000 square feet, the cathedral’s grandeur and historic significance added to the magic of the moment. Hundreds of visitors were exploring the cathedral, and around 100 paused their tours to sit and listen to our concert. It was a truly special experience with an audience from across the globe,” he said.
“The verger was blown away, calling our performances fantastic,” Howard said. “Considering that he regularly hears choirs from around the world, his praise was particularly meaningful. I’m incredibly proud of our students.”
For Richard Schwing, a political science junior from Oklahoma City, the performance at St. Patrick’s was unforgettable. “Our sound was incredible, but the atmosphere and history of the place added so much to the music. Learning about the cathedral’s history and its importance to the local community deepened our connection to the performance,” he said.
Ainsley Ross, a vocal music education junior from Richardson, Texas, says performing at St. Patrick’s was an unforgettable experience. They sang “There Will Be Rest,” a piece she had memorized. “As we sang ‘There Will Be Rest’ I either closed my eyes to enjoy the beautiful acoustics or I took my eyes away from my sheet music to truly soak in the stunning cathedral. It almost brought me to tears because of how lucky I felt to be performing in such a special and historic location,” she said.
The concert at the 150-year-old St. Joseph’s Church was another highlight for students. They were particularly impressed with the church’s acoustics and architecture, Howard says. The performance, presented in concert with the Irish group Celtic Calling, left a lasting impression. “The audience was so very warm and enthusiastic.”
Among the students performing were Samuel Antipov, of Harrah; Joshua Bell, Flower Mound, Texas; Becca Benson, Frederick; Walker Brown, Moore; Malachi Campbell, Moore; Giovanni Corrodus, Spanish Town, Jamaica; Azure-Leigh Eddington, Lawton; Brycen Franks, Lexington; Addyson Gaillardet, Durant; Kilie Goins, Broken Arrow; Dillon Hopkins, Bartlesville; Jackson Humphrey-Lehrach, Norman; Kaitlyn Johnson, Lewisville, Texas; Grayson Jones, Oklahoma City; Max Kincheloe, San Antonio, Texas; Marley McKinley, Edmond; Josiah Morgan, Edmond; Alexander Nelson, Tulsa; Rebekah Peters, Ada; Michael Rieser, Fort Worth, Texas; Nolan Riggi, Enid; Ainsley Ross, Richardson, Texas; Richard Schwing, Oklahoma City; Karis Skinner, Afton; Nathaniel Stambaugh, Flower Mound, Texas; Hannah Teifke, Edmond; Regina Thornton, Moore; and Sutherlin Tillery, Walters.
This year, the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts celebrates its centennial at the University of Oklahoma. The college produces over 300 concerts, recitals, dramas, musicals, operas and dance performances each year. Learn more at ou.edu/finearts.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. OU was named the state’s highest-ranking university in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent Best Colleges list. For more information about the university, visit ou.edu.
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