Concert Choir

 

The Concert Choir, Gary R. Schwartzhoff, conductor, is one of six ensembles at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Due to the popularity of the choral program at UW-Eau Claire, the campus has been recognized as "Wisconsin's Singing University".

 

Throughout its history, the Concert Choir has worked with many outstanding orchestras including the Minnesota Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, The San Diego Symphony Orchestra, as well as, the Philadelphia Brass. The Concert Choir performs major works in union with the UW-Eau Claire Symphony Choir and Symphonic Orchestra biannually. Recent works include Ein deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms; Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn; Mass in C and Choral Fantasia by Ludwig van Beethoven; Carmina Burana by Carl Orff; and the Mass in B Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach. The Concert Choir has collaborated with prominent composers and conductors including Jackson Berkey, Jerry Blackstone, Robert DeCormier, Eph Ehly, James Fritschel, Dale Grotenhuis, Moses Hogan, Gian Carlo Menotti, Weston Noble, John Rutter, James Mulholland and Z. Randall Stroope. In 2015, the University is pleased to host Timothy Takach as artist-in-residence.

 

The choir has traveled to Europe on eight concert tours including appearances at the 50ThAnniversary and the 60ThAnniversary of the D-Day Invasion in France. On the 2004 tour,the Concert Choir performed for 300 World War II veterans from the United States at Abbaye in Cerisy-la-Foret. In 2006, the Concert Choir was presented an international award for artistic excellence and cultural exchange from the Federation of Mediterranean inNaples, Italy. In 2009 and 2013, the Concert Choir performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.

 

The Concert Choir has released five compact discs: Sing We Merrily; 2000 European Tour; WMEA Convention; An Amazing Day and Take Up The Song.