The Catawba Singers will perform in a concert for the N.C. State Convention of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The concert will be in the Recital Hall at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
The 72-member voice ensemble is the premier choral ensemble of Catawba College and its touring concert choir. Under the direction of Paul E. Oakley, director of choral, vocal and sacred music studies and associate professor of music at the college, the choir works to develop advanced level skills in singing, musicianship, sight-reading, performance, literature and stylistic specificity.
In 2009, the Catawba Singers sang a solo performance in New York’s Carnegie Hall, joining forces with the New York Chamber Orchestra and Catawba’s vocal faculty soloists for a performance of Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” under Oakley’s baton. This year’s plans include a performance at the Washington National Cathedral.
Oakley has taught at two national conventions of ACDA, has served as clinician for numerous divisional conventions, and is a frequent headliner at state ACDA conventions. He has a master of music degree in conducting from Boston University where he was a Dean’s Scholar. He holds two undergraduate degrees from Friends University, one in organ performance and another in sacred music. He was a Presser Scholar in music.
For more info on Catawba’s Music Department, including information on the Catawba Singers, visit www.catawba.edu/friendsofmusic.