University of South Carolina Concert Choir in the news

Musica, al Flavio Vespasiano l'University of Southern Carolina
Il coro della University of Southern Carolina
	Previsto il gemellaggio tra la prestigiosa Università ed il Liceo Classico Marco Terenzio Varrone di Rieti
dalla Redazione lunedì 7 marzo 2011
Insieme alla Basilica di San Pietro ed alla Chiesa di San Lorenzo di Firenze, sarà Il Teatro Flavio Vespasiano di Rieti una delle tappe del tour italiano del Concert Choir della University of Southern Carolina. Il concerto, previsto per le ore 21 di mercoledì 9 marzo (ingresso libero), si inserisce in una serie di iniziative che vedrà la collaborazione tra il Comune di Rieti Assessorato alla Cultura ed il Tour Operator americano Incantato Tours.  A fare da trait d’union è stata Wealbiz, l’agenzia di marketing turistico di Diego Di Paolo. Il Concert Choir è il complesso corale più selezionato della prestigiosa Università della Carolina del Sud, istituzione che vanta una delle più grandi e rispettate scuole di musica in tutti gli Stati Uniti. Il coro ha ricevuto altissimi riconoscimenti anche a livello internazionale sotto la direzione dello scomparso Arpad Darazs, ed ora continua, sotto la guida del Maestro Larry Wyatt la sua tradizione di qualità. Il coro verrà accompagnato dal Maestro William Bates.  Il programma della serata inizia con la cinquecentesca Ave Maria di Tomas De Victoria e termina con il gospel “My God is so high” in un arrangiamento contemporaneo di Moses Hogan. Nel 1987 su invito speciale, il Concert Choir si è esibito per Papa Giovanni Paolo II durante la visita statunitense del Santo Padre e nel 1988 è stato invitato ad effettuare concerti con l’Orchestra Sinfonica di Gerusalemme sotto la direzione di Lawrence Foster, Sergio Comissiona e Krystof Penderecki. Nel 1992 il Coro è stato scelto per partecipare al concerto celebrativo per il bicentenario di Mozart presso il Lincoln Center di New York. L’evento che tende a portare Rieti all’interno dell’importante circuito dei tour europei e delle principali università e licei americani, è di assoluta eccellenza Il concerto sarà solo uno dei momenti della giornata reatina dei giovani artisti statunitensi.  Nel quadro della stessa iniziativa è prevista infatti anche una sosta a Labro con visita e scambio culturale e di esperienze artistiche con il gruppo di artisti internazionali dell’ Art Monastery Project, ospitati all’interno dell’Hotel Colle di Costa con il patrocino del Comune di Labro. Il pomeriggio vedrà poi lo svolgimento di tre Master Class ( Sax, viola e corno francese) tenute dai professori Constance Gee, Clifford Leaman e Robert Pruzin, docenti di musica della prestigiosa Università americana. Le lezioni si terranno presso il Parco della Musica della Provincia di Rieti e saranno frequentate dagli studenti del Conservatorio reatino.  In Teatro, prima dell’inizio del Concerto, verrà formalizzato un gemellaggio tra la prestigiosa Università ed il Liceo Classico Marco Terenzio Varrone di Rieti con uno formalizzazione tra il Maestro Larry Wiatt ed il Preside del Liceo reatino il professor Umberto Eleuteri.

Monday, March 7, 2011: University of South Carolina Choir & Shadow Tours enjoy a full-day excursion by train through Cinque Terre

The University of South Carolina Concert Choir, Friends, and Family are in for a very special treat

today, as they take the train to visit four different Italian towns in Cinque Terre region.

The travelers transfer from their hotels this morning to La Spezia, where they will catch a train that will take them to the towns of Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. The train will stop in each destination, allowing the travelers time to explore each new destination before ultimately heading back to their hotels at the end of the day.

The Cinque Terre, meaning “Five Lands,” is a rugged portion of the coast along the Italian Riviera. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillside are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park, which is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site noted for its beauty and lack of “modern” development.

Update from abroad: Italy impressions from student Craig Coelho

Italy is everything that every person I spoke to prior to the trip said it would be! It has beautiful, historic charm with such a modern style of life. It is amazing that Europeans live among this everyday, what a treat that must be! Life here seems much more relaxed. Yesterday [Saturday], we went to Pisa and Lucca. It was amazing to experience the architecture and to sing at the Baptistry in Pisa. The acoustics were breathtaking and really gave a better representation and appreciation for the Baroque music we sang. The city of Lucca was a true representation of what Italian life is like on a Saturday afternoon. We experienced many shopping areas and squares filled with locals enjoying time with family and friends. Finally, we all shared an authentic Italian meal at a local farm in the countryside of Lucca. The pasta and wine could not have been any better! I look forward to the remainder of our trip and the experiences that lie ahead, after having a wonderful start!
-Craig Coelho

Full House for USC Concert Choir in Florence

The first formal concert of the 2011 University of South Carolina Concert Choir Italy tour was a success. The singers under the direction of Dr. Larry Wyatt performed to a full house at the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Florence on Sunday, March 6. As soon as the students will send us pictures and videos, we will upload them to the blog.

Sunday, March 6, 2011: University of South Carolina Concert Choir performs in Florence

This morning, the choir travels to the city of Florence, where upon arrival they will enjoy a guided city tour. The tour includes entrance to the Accademia Museum where Michelangelo's famous statue "David" is displayed. Following the tour, the group has some free time to explore at leisure and grab lunch before preparing for this evening's performances. 

The University of South Carolina Concert Choir sings mass at 6:00 this evening at la Chiesa di San Lorenzo. 

La Chiesa di San Lorenzo stands as one of Florence, Italy’s largest churches, situated in the center of the city’s main market district. It is one of several churches claiming to be Florence’s oldest, having been consecrated in the year 393. The Basilica di San Lorenzo served as the city’s cathedral for 300 years until the Bishop’s official seat was moved to Santa Reparata.

In 1419 parishioner Giovanni di Bicci de Medici offered to finance a new church to replace the Romanesque building. Filippo Brunelleschi, the leading Renaissance architect of the first half of the fifteenth century, was commissioned to design the new structure, although the new building did not reach completion until after the architect’s death. The church is part of a larger monastic complex that boasts numerous additional important architectural works including the Laurentian Library by Michelangelo and the New Sacristy based on Michelangelo’s original designs. The sanctuary’s left aisle displays a large fresco by Bronzino depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, and the marble choir loft was designed by Donatello, as were the two bronze pulpits. 

Following their mass participation, the choir then presents their first feature Italian performance at 8:15PM at Santa Maria Maggiore. 

Florence’s Santa Maria Maggiore was originally built as early as the eighth century, with documentation tracing back to the year 931. Popular legend suggests that it may have been constructed in A.D. 580 under the commission of Pope Pelagius, although this theory is not widely supported. The church obtained status of collegiate church and Priory of Florence in 1176 before subsequently expanding its property in 1186. The structure, with the exception of the original external walls and the vaults, was completely renovated in the 13th century to reflect the Gothic style architecture popular of that period. Italian architect and painter Giorgio Vasari is quoted as crediting “Master Buono” as the designer of the new façade and also recorded that following the renovation the high altar then boasted Agnolo Gaddi’s Coronation of the Virgin as well as frescoes by Spinello Aretino. Only fragments of these works survive today.

The exterior of the current structure appears rather simple and undecorated, with stone walls and portals adorned by tympana. The bell tower, which survives from the original Romanesque building, displays an embedded stone head popularly known as Berta. Although the interior appears quite simple, with just a nave and two aisles, the walls flaunt various intricate works of art. Artworks include frescoes by Bernardino Poccetti, a nativity scene constructed by Matteo Rosselli, and a wooden polychrome bas-relief attributed to Coppo di Marcovaldo.

Saturday, March 5, 2011: University of South Carolina Concert Choir visits Pisa & Lucca

Following their first night on Italian soil, the University of South Carolina Concert Choir transfers from their hotel in Montecatini Terme today to visit the Tuscan city of Pisa. 

Pisa is not only famous for its Leaning Tower, but is also the birthplace of legendary physicist Galileo Galilei and is additionally known for its highly rated university, which was established in 1343.

The group will enjoy some free time to explore the city and its sights before moving on to the nearby city of Lucca for a guided city tour. The travelers will end their day with a special agriturismo dinner at "Il Poggio." 

The University of South Carolina Concert Choir has landed safely in Italy!

Good news from Italy: the University of South Carolina Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Larry Wyatt, has landed safely in Italy!
After collecting their luggage and being greeted at the airport by their Incantato Tour Manager, Stefania la Rosa, the travelers are now en route to the spa town of Montecatini Terme, once a favorite location of composer Giuseppe Verdi. 
Upon arrival, the choir will enjoy a special pasta welcome dinner before spending the night at the Imperial Garden Hotel in Montecatini Terme, where they will stay from March 4 through 7. 
Click here for hotel information. 
Tomorrow, Saturday, March 5, the choir will explore the Tuscan city of Pisa before taking a guided city tour of nearby Lucca in the afternoon.

Wishing you safe travels to Italy!

Dear Members of the 2011 USC School of Music Tour to Italy,
We wish you safe travels to Europe! Incantato Tour Manager Stefania La Rosa will be welcoming everyone on Friday, March 4 at Rome (FCO) airport at 11:05AM prior to your transfer to Montecatini Terme, a spa town very much beloved by composer Verdi. The weather is said to be sunny with a few clouds and temperatures around 54°F.
Enjoy your time in Europe, Your Incantato Tours Team

Welcome aboard Lufthansa

The University of South Carolina Concert Choir Tour is about to take off on Incantato's preferred airline: Lufthansa. And lucky travelers they are, as the members of the 2011 USC Italy Performance Tour are heading non-stop on the airline to Germany through the night and then continue on to Rome where the Incantato Tour Manager meets them. While we recommend that you do get some sleep on the transatlantic overnight flight, you are in for several treats such as hot towels to refresh yourself shortly after take-off, at least two warm meals served with salad and dessert plus two or more recent movies. For more information on the on-board experience, visit Lufthansa's website.

Catholic TV - Papal Programming

On the website www.catholictv.com, you can have a look behind the curtain of the Vatican. CatholicTV is a Catholic television network based in Watertown, Massachusetts. It is distributed on cable systems in eight U.S. states and via the internet. CatholicTV broadcasts programming relevant to Catholic viewers, including live religious services, talk shows, devotional programs, educational programming, entertainment, and children's programs. It also presents coverage of special events at the Vatican and of papal journeys. The current president of CatholicTV is Father Robert Reed.

The USC Concert Italy Tour Concert Card

Incantato presents the University of South Carolina Concert Choir at San Lorenzo Church (Florence) on Sunday, March 6 at 6 PM

The University of South Carolina Concert Choir will sing mass at the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence at 6:00PM on Sunday, March 6, 2011.

The Basilica di San Lorenzo stands as one of Florence, Italy’s largest churches, situated in the center of the city’s main market district. It is one of several churches claiming to be Florence’s oldest, having been consecrated in the year 393. The Basilica di San Lorenzo served as the city’s cathedral for 300 years until the Bishop’s official seat was moved to Santa Reparata.

In 1419 parishioner Giovanni di Bicci de Medici offered to finance a new church to replace the Romanesque building. Filippo Brunelleschi, the leading Renaissance architect of the first half of the fifteenth century, was commissioned to design the new structure, although the new building did not reach completion until after the architect’s death. The church is part of a larger monastic complex that boasts numerous additional important architectural works including the Laurentian Library by Michelangelo and the New Sacristy based on Michelangelo’s original designs. The sanctuary’s left aisle displays a large fresco by Bronzino depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, and the marble choir loft was designed by Donatello, as were the two bronze pulpits.

University of South Carolina Concert Choir sings at Sant'Agnese in Agone on Piazza Navona today at 6 PM

Friends of fine choral music in Rome are sure in for a treat: The magnificent church of Sant'Agnese in Agone on the gorgeous Piazza Navona is the third and final concert venue for the University of South Carolina Concert Choir on their 2011 Incantato Italy Performance Tour 2011. The choir from Columbia, South Carolina under the direction of Dr. Larry Wyatt is presenting sacred works for choir, Saxophone, French Horn and Viola in a feature concert at 6:00PM on Thursday, March 10, 2011.

The Basilica Sant’Agnese in Agone in Rome was constructed in 1652 on the site of Saint Agnes’ martyrdom, now the location of the Piazza Navona. The designs for the Baroque church were commissioned by Pope Innocent X, whose funerary monument now lies within the church. The Pope’s family even had a large palace adjacent to the church. Baroque architect Francesco Borromini ultimately introduced a concave volume in the center of the sanctuary, creating prime acoustics for vocal music. Visitors enjoy the interior’s premier sculptural artwork, accented by the marble relief found in the main altar, as well as Bernini’s famous Fountain of the Four Rivers that lies in front of the church.

University of South Carolina Concert Choir performs at Santa Maria Maggiore (Florence) on Sunday, March 6 at 8:15 PM

The University of South Carolina Concert Choir from Columbia, South Carolina, will perform a feature concert at Santa Maria Maggiore in Florence at 8:15PM on Sunday, March 6, 2011. Florence’s Santa Maria Maggiore was originally built as early as the eighth century, with documentation tracing back to the year 931. Popular legend suggests that it may have been constructed in A.D. 580 under the commission of Pope Pelagius, although this theory is not widely supported. The church obtained status of collegiate church and Priory of Florence in 1176 before subsequently expanding its property in 1186. The structure, with the exception of the original external walls and the vaults, was completely renovated in the 13th century to reflect the Gothic style architecture popular of that period. Italian architect and painter Giorgio Vasari is quoted as crediting “Master Buono” as the designer of the new façade and also recorded that following the renovation the high altar then boasted Agnolo Gaddi’s Coronation of the Virgin as well as frescoes by Spinello Aretino. Only fragments of these works survive today.

The exterior of the current structure appears rather simple and undecorated, with stone walls and portals adorned by tympana. The bell tower, which survives from the original Romanesque building, displays an embedded stone head popularly known as Berta. Although the interior appears quite simple, with just a nave and two aisles, the walls flaunt various intricate works of art. Artworks include frescoes by Bernardino Poccetti, a nativity scene constructed by Matteo Rosselli, and a wooden polychrome bas-relief attributed to Coppo di Marcovaldo.

University of South Carolina Concert Choir presents a highlight concert at Il Teatro Flavio Vespasiano (Rieti) on Wednesday, March 9 at 9 PM

Incantato Tours proudly presents the University of South Carolina Concert Choir in a magical venue, Il Teatro Flavio Vespasiano, in Rieti on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 9:00PM under the direction of Dr. Larry Wyatt.
Il Teatro Flavio Vespasiano is the main theater of Rieti, a town in the commune of Lazio in central Italy. The current structure dates back to December of 1883 but was not officially inaugurated until September 20, 1893, featuring productions of Goethe’s Faust and Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. The theater, named for the Roman Emperor Vespasian, required ten years of construction under the direction of Milanese architect Achille Sfondrini.

The theater underwent complete restoration from 2005 through 2009. A grand re-opening celebration commenced on January 10, 2009 featuring conductor Marcello Rota, and soloists Karina Grigoryan, Jessica Pratt, Anna Gorayacheva, and Roman Burdenko. The Secretary to the Prime Minister as well as Senator Franco Marini were in attendance. The restoration efforts totaled more than 3.3 million Euro.The reopening of the theater also fostered the formation of the Flavius Vespasian Foundation, aiming to promote international artistry and music. The Rieti Theatre also annually hosts the Rieti Dance Festival, the International Competition for the New Opera Voices of Mattia Battistini, and the National Competition for Young Actors.

The theatre is well known for its excellent acoustics, a characteristic that earned the structure the very first National Award for the Acoustics. In referring to the acoustics, Professor Bruno Cagli, president of the National Academy of Saint Cecilia, once called the theatre “the world’s best in that respect.”

University of South Carolina - Il Teatro Flavio Vespasiano Performance Program

The University of South Carolina Concert Choir will present a very special highlight performance at Il Teatro Flavio Vespasiano in Rieti on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 9:00PM. The concert will also feature soloists Dr. William Bates, Dr. Constance Gee, Dr. Clifford Leaman, Mr. Robert Pruzin, and Mr. Jacob Will.  

The performance will feature the following program: 

Non nobis, Domine - Rosephanye Powell 

Crucifixus - Antonio Lotti

Ave Maria - Tomas Luis de Victoria

Exsultate justi in Domino - Ludivico da Viadana

Fantasia No. 1 in C Major - Georg Philipp Telemann, arr. Alan Arnold 

• Largo

• Allegro

• Grave               

Constance Gee, viola

Son of God Mass - James Whitbourn

Clifford Leaman, sassofono soprano

Agnus Dei - Samuel Barber

Alleluia (from Songs of Faith) - Paul Basler

Intrada from Partita on “When in our Music God is Glorified” - William H. Bates

William Bates, organo

In You the Earth - Mike D’Ambrosio               

Ah, Holy Jesus - John Ferguson

 Constance Gee, viola 

Peter Wept - Alex Davis 

Set Me as a Seal - Richard Nance

 Robert Pruzin, corno 

Shall We Gather at the River - arr. Aaron Copland

Jacob Will, basso 

General William Booth Enters Into Heaven - Charles Ives

I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray - arr. Hall Johnson 

My Lord, What a Mornin’ - arr. Harry Burleigh

My God Is So High - arr. Moses Hogan

Ain’t Got Time to Die - arr. Hall Johnson 

Incantato concert venue: Art Monastery, Labro

The University of South Carolina Concert Choir tour will spend Wednesday, March 9 touring the Art Monastery in Labro, learning about artistic creativity through monastic living.

The Art Monastery Project, founded in 2007, is a community of artists dedicated to fostering creativity through commitment to a disciplined, contemplative, and sustainable monastic lifestyle.

Established by American, San Francisco-based artists Betsy McCall and Christopher Fülling, the project works to transform an historic Italian monastery into an international arts production center. The project investigates what the Art Monks refer to as “social sculpture,” developing a diverse variety of visual and performance art in a manner which focuses just as much on the creative process as the final product.

In striving to meld historical tradition with contemporary culture, the Art Monastery presents on-site exhibitions and performances as well as collaborations with the surrounding communities. However, work created within the monastery premieres locally before ever touring internationally.

Previously located in the small Italian town of Calvi dell’Umbria, the Art Monastery relocated to the hilltop town of Labro, approximately seventy minutes north east of Rome. The San Antonio monastery, a former 17^th century Franciscan abbey, now serves as the official home of the Art Monastery Project. The site holds a state-of-the-art 150 seat theater for performances and exhibits. Hotel Colle di Costa and Ristorante Ulisse are also located within the structure.

A radical contemporary experiment in “social sculpture,” the Art Monastery is “ready to indulge visitors without hesitation…”

In addition to Labro, the Art Monastery hosts chapters in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Reno, Bloomington, Chicago, Buffalo, and New York City.

New additions to your Incantato Tour Blog!

We have added new important and exciting information to your blog. Please click on the links below to learn more about your upcoming journey.

Travel information:

• Updated Choir Tour itinerary
• Updated Shadow Tour itinerary
• Flight schedules
• Map of tour route
• Travel Tip: What to pack
• Travel Tip: Money matters
• Travel Tip: High voltage
• Travel Tip: Use of cell phones
• Travel Tip: Frequently asked questions
  

Confirmed performance venues:

• San Lorenzo, Florence
• Santa Maria Maggiore, Florence
• Il Teatro Flavio Vespasiano, Rieti
• Art Monastery, Labro
• Basilica Sant'Agnese in Agone, Rome
• Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Hotel accommodations:

• Imperial Garden, Montecatini Terme
• Hotel Montebello, Montecatini Terme
• Hotels La Pergola and Sabina, Magliano Sabina
• Oly Hotel, Rome

Enjoy the University of South Carolina Concert Choir tour blog? Then become a follower and never miss an update

Dear Members, Family and Friends of the University of South Carolina Concert Choir, we sure hope you enjoy the blog and recommend that you become a follower by clicking on the respective option in the right side bar of this webpage. As a follower, you will never miss an update and once the group heads over to Europe there should be lots of news coming your way. You can also leave comments which are like virtual greetings. Our tour team will pass those messages to the travelers on tour whenever possible. Everyone at Incantato Tours wishes you well as you prepare for this exciting journey under the leadership of Dr. Larry Wyatt.

Meet the University of South Carolina Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Larry Wyatt

The Concert Choir is the University of South Carolina’s most select choral ensemble. The Concert Choir achieved international recognition under the direction of the late Arpad Darazs and continues the tradition of excellence under the direction of Dr. Larry Wyatt.

In 1987, they performed for the visit of Pope John Paul II, and in 1988 were invited to perform three concerts with the Jerusalem Symphony under Lawrence Foster, Sergiu Comissiona, and Krystof Penderecki. Under Maestro Penderecki, they performed his St. Luke Passion. In 1990, they traveled to Spain and performed Handel’s Messiah in a series of concerts.

In the spring of 1992, the USC Concert Choir was one of seventeen university ensembles selected to perform on the Mozart Bicentennial “Masses in Concert” series in Alice Tully Hall of Lincoln Center. They followed that performance with a highly successful presentation of J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion for the Southern Division Convention of the American Choral Directors Association. In the summer of 1994, they served as choir-in-residence for the Classical Music Seminar in Eisenstadt, Austria.

In 1998 the choir performed again on the Southern Division Convention of ACDA and during the summer they toured Germany and the Czech Republic. The highlight of that tour was a performance in the Thomaskirche at Leipzig, the church served by J.S. Bach during the latter part of his life. In March of 2000 selected members of the choir, along with the Left Bank Jazz Band, traveled to London and Paris to perform selections from the Sacred Concerts by Duke Ellington. On tour in December and January 2001-2002, the Concert Choir performed in Vienna, Salzburg and Munich. In 2004 they toured Italy and Bulgaria presenting J.A.C. Redford's oratorio The Martyrdom of Polycarp. The choir traveled to Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai in the summer of 2008 and performed with several other choirs in a prelude to the Summer Olympics. In the spring of 2009, they performed the world premiere of Songs of Love and War by Taylor Harding, composer and dean of the School of Music.

The choir traveled to Memphis in March of 2010 to perform William Averitt’s The Passion According to St. Matthew in a feature concert at the Southern Division Convention of the American Choral Directors Association.

Dr. Larry Wyatt is in his 23rd year as Director of Choral Studies at the University of South Carolina. In addition to directing the Concert Choir, he supervises the master’s and doctoral programs in choral conducting and the Graduate Vocal Ensemble.

Dr. Wyatt holds degrees from Murray State University, The University of North Texas, and Florida State University. Prior to coming to USC, he served as Choral Director and Coordinator of the Vocal Department at Loyola University in New Orleans. While in New Orleans he founded the New Orleans Symphony Chorus and prepared them for performances of over forty major works with internationally recognized conductors. In addition to the New Orleans Symphony, his choirs have sung with the Houston, Atlanta, Charleston, South Carolina Philharmonic and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestras. He has prepared choruses for Robert Shaw, Lawrence Foster, Krzysztof Penderecki, Maxim Schostakovich, Robert Page, David Stahl, Philippe Entremont, Leonard Slatkin, Sergiu Comissiona, Andrew Massey, James Paul, Nicholas Smith and of course, Donald Portnoy. He has conducted and served as a clinician in Mexico, Argentina, Bulgaria and Canada. In February 2002, he conducted Vaughan-Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem in his third engagement at Carnegie Hall, and in February of 2005 he conducted Beethoven's Mass in C in the same venue.

In addition to his work at USC, Dr. Wyatt is founder and director of Colla Voce, a community chamber ensemble of professional musicians that began in spring 2001. He is active as a clinician, guest conductor and adjudicator, and has served as president of the Southern Division of the American Choral Directors Association.

Meet the University of South Carolina Soloists

A native of Texas, Dr. William Bates earned his BMus in Organ and Church Music and BA in Music Theory from Howard Payne College in Brownwood. He received his graduate training at Indiana University, where as a pupil of Oswald Ragatz he earned both the MMus and the DMus in organ performance. From 1969 to 1978 he served on the music faculty of The University of West Florida in Pensacola and since 1978 has taught at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he holds the position of Professor of Organ. William Bates has presented recitals and workshops for churches and AGO chapters throughout much of the United States. In addition, he has concertized in Europe, having played, among other venues, at King's College Chapel in Cambridge, England, and at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. Bates has also been a featured lecturer-recitalist at a number of music conventions, including national meetings of the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society. In addition, he has contributed articles and reviews to The American Organist, The Diapason, and The Journal of the American Liszt Society. Critics have been unanimous in their appraisal of Bates' performances: "Expert command of the organ ... executes difficult compositions flawlessly" (Pensacola, Florida); "It was a highlight in several years of performance programming! Such stunning musicianship" (Huntsville, Alabama); "A flawless performance" (Indianapolis, Indiana); "Bates demonstrated to a lively and enthusiastic audience that an organ recital can be an exhilarating as well as a musically rewarding experience" (Charlottesville, Virginia); "Dr. Bates' memorized performance received a standing ovation" (The Diapason); Played with a technical ability seldom heard" (Tampa, Florida); "Virtuosity, perfection, and artistry" (Washington, DC); "William Bates's recital of Liszt, Franck, Brahms and Reubke saw him thoroughly in his stylistic element giving his audience beautifully cohesive and virtuosic renditions" (The American Organist). Trained as both a performer and a scholar, William Bates is an organist with remarkable technique and musical insight. He is known for his articulate, stylistic, and musical performances of music from all periods of organ literature.

Constance Whitman Gee is viola professor at the University of South Carolina where she maintains an active viola studio, coordinates string chamber music and is Director of the Community Music School and Suzuki Strings program. She has performed extensively across the US and Europe as an orchestral and chamber musician and soloist. She lived and worked in Spain for several years as the Principal Violist with the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada and the Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife. Gee has appeared as soloist with orchestras, including the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada, the Charlottesville Symphony, and Piccolo Spoleto Festival among others. An avid supporter of New Music, she has collaborated with such composers as Luciano Berio, Luis Andriessen, Henry Brant, David Jaffe, and others. She has premiered several works written expressly for her; most recently Reginald Bain's “Tiling” for viola and piano. Upcoming projects include the recording of the works for viola by Henry Brant to be included in the collected works of the composer. Her recordings include the Sonata per viola I piano by Salvador Brotons, and Heaven and Earth: Chamber Music with Harp. A proponent of all things viola, she founded and served as president of the Virginia Viola Society and now serves as president of the South Carolina Viola Society. Her major teachers included Jesse Levine, Stuart Canin, James Dunham and Emanuel Zetlin. She holds degrees from the University of Maryland, the Yale School of Music and California Institute of the Arts.

Critics have hailed Clifford Leaman “an artist of the first order…intuitive, exciting, and enthralling." (Paul Wagner, The Saxophone Journal) Leaman reveals himself to be [an] artist of technical brilliance and emotional commitment." "The range of colors is impressive..." (Jack Sullivan, American Record Guide). Professor of saxophone at the University of South Carolina, Dr. Leaman received the Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Lebanon Valley College, and the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in performance from the University of Michigan where he was a student of Donald Sinta. He served on the faculties of Furman University, Eastern Michigan University, and The University of Michigan prior to his appointment at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Leaman is in great demand as a soloist and clinician and has performed and taught throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, Spain and China, where he was a featured guest artist for the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Yantai International Winds Art Festival and the 2005 Xi’an International Arts Festival. He has performed as a concerto soloist at the XII World Saxophone Congress in Montreal, Canada, the North American Saxophone Alliance’s 2006 Biennial Conference in Iowa City, Iowa, the 2008 International Navy Band Symposium in Washington D.C. and will be featured in the XV World Saxophone Congress in July, 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr. Leaman, in collaboration with pianist Derek Parsons, formed the Ambassador Duo in 1990; and they have released three critically acclaimed compact discs on the Equilibrium label. These recordings are entitled Brillance (EQ-21), Excursions (EQ-55), and Illuminations (EQ-77), which features, among others, three works that were written for the duo. He has also performed extensively with percussionist Scott Herring, giving concerts and master classes at many universities and saxophone conventions since 2005 when they formed the RoseWind Duo. Their debut compact disc recording, Release, (EQ-92) was released in 2008 and features works for alto saxophone and marimba. Dr. Leaman is also featured on a variety of recordings of solo and chamber works for Redwood Records, CRS, and the University of Arizona Recordings. An avid supporter of contemporary music, Dr. Leaman has commissioned and given the world premiere performances of numerous works, including concertos by Pulitzer Prize-winning composers, Leslie Bassett and Michael Colgrass. His recording of the Bassett with the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra is available through Equilibrium Records (EQ-63). Dr. Leaman is an artist-clinician for Rico International and the Conn-Selmer Company, Inc. and performs exclusively on Selmer saxophones and Rico reeds.

Mr. Robert Pruzin is currently Associate Dean and Professor of Music at the University of South Carolina, where he teaches horn and is Director of Advisement and Student Teaching. Mr. Pruzin is the Principal Horn in the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra and the Augusta Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Mr. Pruzin is the Artist-in-Residence at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts. Mr. Pruzin is also the creator, producer, and artist performer of a program entitled, "Bring Mozart Alive!" Dressed as a court musician in the time of Mozart, Mr. Pruzin has performed for over ten thousand elementary school children throughout the Carolinas, educating future musical audiences about the work of this great composer. Having earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the State University of New York at Potsdam, Mr. Pruzin received his Masters of Music in Performance at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. with continued postgraduate work at the University of Maryland and Northwestern University. Mr. Pruzin was a member of the United States Marine Band, "The President's Own" in Washington, D.C. He has appeared as a guest soloist in the International Horn Society convention, at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, and numerous regional orchestras throughout the Southeast and he has received critical acclaim wherever he has performed.

Bass-baritone Jacob Will made his New York Philharmonic debut as soloist in the American Premiere of the Messa per Rossini, a performance televised live nationwide. An experienced concert artist, Mr. Will has appeared with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Vladamir Ashkenazy and with the Cabrillo Festival under the baton of Dennis Russell Davies. He has sung with the San Francisco Symphony in the St. Matthew Passion, with the International Bach Festival of Schaffhausen, Switzerland in the St. John Passion, and with the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra in Frank Martin's Le mystère de la Nativité. He has also recorded Cherubini’s Messe solennelle under Helmuth Rilling and Zemlinsky’s Kleider Machen Leute under Ralf Weikert. Mr. Will has sung for many years with the Zürich Opera appearing in roles such as Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Mustafa in L'Italiana in Algeri, and Colline in La Boheme. Other companies with which Mr. Will has appeared include the New York City Opera as Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, Vancouver Opera as Oroveso in Norma, the Bavarian State Opera as Samuel in Un Ballo in Maschera and the San Francisco Opera as Masetto in Don Giovanni. A native of Hartsville, South Carolina, Mr. Will attended Furman University and graduated from the University of South Carolina and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He participated in the Merola and Adler Fellowship Programs of the San Francisco Opera and has been a prizewinner in various international singing competitions including the Munich Competition and the Queen Elizabeth Competition of Brussels.