Day of Music: Southeast to host Men's Choral Festival next month

High school boys from around the area will get a chance to improve their vocal skills, learn songs and put on a performance, all in one day during the second annual Men's Choral Festival on Oct. 6.

Dr. Peter Durow, the director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Education at Southeast Missouri State University, is conducting the festival.

"I want to get high school students involved," Durow said.

The festival is for any high school males who are involved in their school's choir program and want to register. A majority of the participants are from local high schools such as Cape Girardeau Central High School and Jackson High School, but some do travel from farther away.

Durow said students will learn songs for that evening's performance at the festival, tour the River Campus, study vocal technique, rehearse and perform. The participants will work alongside Southeast's University Choir.

Some high school juniors and seniors may also have the opportunity to take part in personalized mini-lessons with vocal instructors at the university.

The students will stay together for the majority of the day and work as a group to make the performance a success. Durow said that during their time on campus, he hopes to inspire the students to become Redhawks in the future.

The performance will begin with the students singing an African chant. Next, students will perform a piece written by Durow titled "The Lamb."

"Lambscapes" is the third segment, and it is a work that is split into four parts, ranging from Gregorian chant to Italian opera. This piece is based on "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Its familiarity should be helpful while the students learn about different vocalized styles from music history.

The Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity, 50-member University Choir and 16 members of the Chamber Choir will also perform.

Durow encourages the public to attend the free concert, which he says will include "great performances." The festival begins at 9 a.m. in the Shuck Music Recital Hall and will conclude with the performance at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 6 in the Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus.

To participate, students must pay the $20 fee by Friday. An optional T-shirt is available for an additional $10 with the proceeds benefiting the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity, which will be performing along with the high school students.

Pertinent address:

One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, Mo.