Nova Singers Concert, April 26-27

Nova Singers, directed by Laura Lane, will perform April 26 at 7:30 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Galesburg and on Sunday, April 27 at 4:00 p.m., at First Congregational Church, Moline.

Nova Singers will present Gabriel Faur??s Requiem and John Corigliano's "Fern Hill" in its annual spring concert. The concert feature a chamber orchetra accompaniment soloists Brian Nelson, baritone; Rebecca Pracht, alto; Curtis Oelschlaeger, bass; and Emily Shenk, soprano. Five Knox College students will join the Nova Singers for the concert -- seniors Philippe Moore, Elena Lahti and Anthony Hinrich, junior Margaret Wehr and sophomore Pier Debes.

"Faure's Requiem is one of the most beloved of all the major choral-orchestral works, due to its timeless simplicity and its simple, yet sublime, melodies," Lane said. Rather than focusing on death, the theme of many settings of the Requiem text, Faure wrote that he wanted to portray "a happy deliverance, an aspiration towards the happiness of the hereafter, rather than a painful passing away."

"Fern Hill" is a choral setting of a poem by Dylan Thomas. "The poem is full of the pastoral imagery of a child growing up on a farm and the end of childhood," Lane said. "John Corigliano's music responds to the vivid country imagery, summoning musical metaphors and a rich variety of colors to match the emotions in the text."

Nova Singers is a 20-voice professional ensemble that has performed throughout the Midwest and at state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association. Nova Singers has produced six recordings that are available to the public. Lane is Professor of Music, Director of Choirs, and Chair of the Music Department at Knox College.

Tickets will be available at the door. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors. Students are admitted free. Nova Singers season tickets will still be available through this performance. Season ticket holders receive four concerts for the price of three. For information about group rates, tickets, recordings, or other Nova Singers events, call 309-341-7038, or e-mail nova@knox.edu.

The concert is sponsored by G & M Distributors and the Quad City Times. The Nova Singers' 2007-2008 season is partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.