The Drake Choir and Drake University/Community Chorus will join the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra to perform Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and “The Promise of Living” by Aaron Copland.
The concert will be held on Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, September 18 at 2:30 p.m. at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, located at 221 Walnut St.
The Drake Choir is the University’s select touring ensemble. The Drake University/Community Chorus is a non-auditioned choir made up of Drake students, faculty, staff, and community members who are otherwise unaffiliated with Drake.
Both choirs will sing the monumental Ninth Symphony as well as “The Promise of Living” by American composer Aaron Copland. (Watch a video of a “flash mob” performance by the choir recorded at Mars Cafe.)
The Drake Choir will also transform into an opera chorus as it sings with mezzo-soprano soloist Mary Creswell in a performance of the “Habanera” from Bizet’s “Carmen.”
The groups are under the direction of Aimee Beckmann-Collier, professor of conducting and director of choral studies at Drake.
The performance marks the Des Moines Symphony’s 74th season debut and will pay tribute to the September 11 attacks. This season’s theme is “Spirit of America,” and will feature pieces by American composers.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to sing this deeply meaningful music with the Des Moines Symphony and are happy to participate in our city’s musical commemoration of the September 11 attacks,” Beckmann-Collier said. “We are singing of our united hope for the future of collaboration among people of good will, which is the overriding theme of this set of concerts.”
Tickets are available online at www.dmsymphony.org or by visiting the Civic Center Ticket Office, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information, contact Aimee Beckmann-Collier at aimee.beckmann-collier@drake.edu or 515-271-2841.