Against the Odds: PSU Chamber Choir Wins Major Int'l Comp

[BroadwayVik]

* * * * *

Listen Here: Go to http://www.allclassical.org/ & Click "Audio Archives" and then click either
(1) "Played in Oregon - This Week" (until 9/1, 1:00pm), or
(2) "Played in Oregon - Last Week" (from 9/1, 1:00pm until 9/8, 1:00pm)

* * * * *

GORIZA, Italy (July 21, 2013) – PSU’s choir is the first U.S. ensemble in nine years to be invited to this competition, which featured 22 top choirs from 21 countries. The competition featured musical categories ranging from 19th and 20th century classical genres to folk and popular music.

Finalists were determined based on scores in the classical categories. Choirs competing in the finals were able to perform any song or genre of their choosing. Portland State's final set included: "A Boy and a Girl" by Eric Whitacre; "Desh" arr. by Ethan Sperry; "Pater Noster" by Giuseppe Verde; "Blessed Art Thou O Lord" by Sergei Rachmaninoff; and "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, arr. by Ethan Sperry.

“It's quite an amazing feeling -- I'm not sure it's completely real yet,” said PSU choir director Ethan Sperry. “I told everybody all along that we're not competing with the other choirs, we're just competing with ourselves to do the best we possibly can, and they did. I've never seen a group work so hard every single day, every single minute. It's unbelievable the level of focus and commitment.

“If anyone in the larger United States is paying attention, I think they should be proud of us being able to cross cultural barriers and show the best side of our country," he added.

In addition to placing first in the overall competition, PSU won top honors in the categories of 19th Century Classical, Spiritual, and Choreography, among several other awards.

http://www.pdx.edu/music/news/portl...ace-seghizzi-international-choral-competition

 

[BroadwayVik]

I believe that one comparative advantage a place like Portland, Oregon has, with its cloudy, introspective weeather is SOUND. We tend toward the auditory.

What feels better than being inside on a rainy day listening to a culturally mature radio station's music and other-entertainment presentation, especially something like NPR on a Saturday? We love quality radio here, we love live music here, we are all about the SOUND -- perhaps not as much the visual.

That is why I thought the group, Viking SOUND, was such a thunderstruck revelation. This was hitting the nail on the head connecting Portland State to its cultural geography. This is also reason why the Chamber Choir accomplishment internationally was so significant, so gratifying. The SOUND.

The Art of SOUND in Portland. May it continue to be found in concentrated form at Portland State.

 

[pdxfan]

I weent to AllClassical and listened. Spectacular voices, spectacular music! Amazing how little PSU could represent the USA and win at an international competition. Shades of Michael Smith and College Bowl days. Thanks for that lead.

 

[BroadwayVik]

This is an excllent conduit to connect Portland State (and Portland) to Europe. I'm so proud of these fockers.

Check out this video presentation: http://www.psuchamberchoir.com/ They really deserved the win.