10/06/11 kkh

HAYS, Kan. -- The choral program at Fort Hays State University boasts more members this year than it has in a long time, reflecting the growth of the Department of Music and Theatre.

More than 150 voices are in the five choirs this fall, said Dr. Terry Crull, assistant professor of music and theatre, with 22 Fort Hays Singers, 56 in the Concert Choir, 32 in the Women's Chorale, eight in the Collegian Chorale and 40 in the Smoky Hill Chorale, the community and adult choir.

The Concert Choir and Fort Hays Singers will join the Wind Ensemble for a fall concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21, at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

"The Fort Hays Singers will perform a variety of music, ranging from the Renaissance to modern pop-style gospel settings," Crull said. "The concert choir is hard at work on Johannes Brahms' famous 'Liebeslieder Walzer' and love song waltzes for duo pianists, choir and soloists."

The choirs and band will join after the wind ensemble portion of the program to present "Requiem 9-11," a commemorative piece to mark the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, written by Dr. Jeff Jordan, assistant professor of music and theatre.

The concert will close with an arrangement of "God Bless America."

Additional concerts this year include the Cathedral Concert at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, at St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria, the spring concert in early March, and the Masterworks Concert featuring FHSU alumnus Don Moses conducting Haydn's oratorio "The Creation."

For more information, contact Crull at 785-628-4258 or email him at tacrull@fhsu.edu.