VocalEssence program links
Mexican composers with area schools, churches and choral organizations

MINNEAPOLIS,
Minn. (May 12, 2010) – Over 300 area
students and community members will join the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble
Singers to perform the world premieres of brand new works, written specifically
for them by Mexican composers taking part in the VocalEssence ¡Cantaré!
Program. This year-long program culminates on Tuesday, May 25^th
(7 pm) with the VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Community Concert at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis.

The
performance is free and open to the
public, but tickets are strongly recommended. A limited number of free tickets
are available at the following four locations: Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet
Mall, Minneapolis; Latino Communications Network (LCN Media), 1516 E. Lake
Street Suite #200, Minneapolis; Consulate of Mexico, 797 E. 7th Street, St. Paul; and Neighborhood House, 179 Robie Street E., St. Paul. Doors
open at 6:15 pm for ticket holders. Non-ticket holders will be admitted
beginning at 6:45 pm, based on availability of seating.

Building on the tremendous
success of its inaugural 2008-2009 season, the VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Program
links Mexican composers with the Twin Cities community through residencies in
schools, churches, and choral organizations. This cross-cultural program creates
a deeper understanding of the rich Mexican classical music heritage, develops a
new understanding of the traditions that are melding Mexican and American
cultures, and creates a new body of Spanish language music for voices and
instruments that will be shared with the community.  

¡Cantaré! composers
Jesús López and Diana Syrse
first traveled to Minnesota in October 2009 to meet the ensembles they are working
with during the 2009-2010 school year. Their purpose was to hear the ensembles
sing and determine what kind of composition would be most appropriate for each
group. After spending one week together, the composers returned to Mexico and
spent the next two months writing new works for each choir, which were
delivered to the singers in January 2010. In March 2010, the composers returned
for a second visit with their ensembles to hear how rehearsals were proceeding
with their brand new compositions, and to work directly with the singers.

Composers Jesús López and
Diana Syrse return for a week in May to help prepare their choirs for the world
premiere of their compositions at the 2010
VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Community Concert. The concert will also feature new
music written by Jorge Córdoba, one
of the composers who participated in last season’s inaugural ¡Cantaré! Program.

Composer Residencies and Repertoire

The principal organist at the
Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico, Jesús
López has extensive experience working with school-age children and has
composed a variety of choral works including Suite Romántica, which was dedicated to the Children’s Choir of La
Schola Cantorum in Mexico. Jesús López is
working with:

• Burroughs
  Community School (Minneapolis): Approximately
  130 second grade students will perform “Velero de Papel” and “Ensueños.”

• Adams
  Spanish Immersion School (St.
  Paul): Approximately 100 fourth grade students will perform “El
  Barquito de Papel” and “Clavelito.”

• Latino
  Children’s Choir, a group of
  young people from several area churches hosted by Ascension Church in
  north Minneapolis: Approximately
  35 students will perform “Festividad de la Sagrada Familia” and “Himno de
  Vísperas.”

• VocalEssence
  Chorus: “En
  Paz” will be performed by the 100 members of the VocalEssence Chorus.

 
Surrounded by music of all styles from a young age, Diana Syrse has a wide range of experience writing choral works for
organizations such as La Coordinadora Internacional de Mujeres en el Arte and
Vox LaTina as well as conducting workshops in contemporary compositional
techniques. Diana Syrse is working
with:

• Como
  Park High School (St. Paul): Approximately 25 girls will perform “Tierra de Maíz.”

• Washburn
  High School (Minneapolis): Approximately
  25 students will perform “Alma Libre.”

• Andover
  High School (Andover): Approximately
  50 students will perform “La Iglesia de San Juan.”

• All three high school choirs will join forces to
  perform “Cara de Pingo” and “Popurri.”

Jorge Córdoba
was featured as one the inaugural composers in the 2009 VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Program
and is currently serving as mentor to Jesús
López and Diana Syrse this
season. A native of Mexico City, he has gained prominence as a composer and
conductor, performing throughout his homeland, as well as in Spain, Brazil, the
Dominican Republic, Hungary, and the United States. Jorge studied at the
National Conservatory of Mexico and served as artistic director for several
well-known choirs, including the National Youth Choir, University National
Choir, and Madrigalist Choir of the National Institute of Fine Arts. Jorge
Córdoba is composing a hymn that will be performed by all participating
ensembles.

Additional information about
the VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Program is available at:
www.vocalessence.org/cantareconcert2010. For press information and photographs
related to the ¡Cantaré! Community
Concert, contact Jennifer Bauer (612-547-1459, jbauer@vocalessence.org).

 

Funding for the VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! program has
been generously provided by The Minneapolis Foundation, General Mills, Best
Buy, RBC Dain Rauscher, and Elmer L. and Eleanor J. Andersen Foundation.