Inside Iowa State

Sept. 22, 2006

27th annual Collage of Choirs is Oct. 1

by Samantha Beres

More than 300 singers from Iowa State's four choirs will join together for the annual Collage of Choirs performance Oct. 1. The concert will feature the Iowa Statesmen, Cantamus, Lyrica and the Iowa State Singers. The choirs will sing together "The Bells of Iowa State" at the conclusion of the program.

The concert, which lasts about 75 minutes, traditionally is held on Family Weekend.

"It gives parents a chance to see what the students are doing," said director of choral activities James Rodde. "It's also the first performance of the year and students get a chance to hear each other sing as well."

The program will include early to contemporary pieces, sacred and secular, from serious to playful, all of which should have audience appeal. Early composers Brahms, Schumann, Leisring and Howells will be represented, as will be the poetry of Dickinson, Shelley and Tennyson. The choirs will sing in numerous languages, including English, German, Latin, Spanish and Hebrew.

The Statesmen, directed by James Rodde (right), is one of four ISU choirs performing at the 27th annual Collage of Choirs Oct. 1. Submitted photo.

Collage of Choirs

Date: Oct. 1, 3 p.m.

Place: Stephens Auditorium

Tickets: $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, available at the Iowa State Center box office and all TicketMaster outlets, 233-1888.