Choir concert tonight boosts Red Cross disaster relief

Three years ago, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Music Department raised funds for earthquake relief in Haiti with a performance of North Carolina composer Steve Dobrogosz's "The Requiem."

"The Requiem" will again be featured in a benefit concert when the UTC Master Chorale presents the work tonight, June 20, as part of its concert in Second Presbyterian Church, 700 Pine St.

Director Kevin Ford says the summer chorale varies from other classical groups in that it is composed of 37 graduate and undergraduate students as well as community singers from Chattanooga, Dalton, Ga., and Sewanee, Tenn.

"Their main focus is not just performing but to provide a graduate-level chorus for our graduate conducting students to direct," said Ford.

Graduate students conducting portions of tonight's program will be Denise Adeniyi, Ashley Cisto and Kevin Moore.

Ford said the concert will be presented in two parts: "The Requiem," which will feature soprano soloist Amy Oakes, and a set of love songs. The latter includes James Mulholland's "A Red, Red Rose," Benjamin Britten's "Fancie" and Alberto Favero's "Te Quiero," which will feature soloists James McClary, Jennifer Allen and Gabrielle Haston. Organist David Friberg will accompany the singers.

The concert is free, but donations will be collected for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Contact staff writer Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.

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