Georgia Southern students and professor perform at Carnegie Hall May 19

May 1, 2007

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Go to Georgia Southern University and practice.

Rod Caldwell, associate professor of music and director of choral activities at Georgia Southern, will travel with eight students to New York City later this month to conduct the Faur Requiem at Carnegie Hall. In New York, Caldwell will lead the New England Symphonic Ensemble and an honor choir composed of more than 150 singers from across the country.

‘In addition to performing a major monument of music, our students will have the experience of singing in one of America’s major concert halls,” said Caldwell. ‘Two of Georgia’s best high school choirs from Starr’s Mill High School and Houston County High School will also be there, so we’ll have an opportunity to show them the tremendous musical education available at Georgia Southern.”

The invitation to perform in Carnegie Hall came from a production company representative who had seen Caldwell and his students at a conference performance several years ago. When they contacted Caldwell, he was delighted to participate.

The group will arrive in New York City on May 16 with time to prepare for the May 19 performance.

Composer Gabriel Faur (1845-1924) completed the Requiem in 1890. He worked as a teacher, choirmaster and music critic in addition to composing. Carnegie Hall, located in midtown Manhattan, is renowned among musicians for its beauty, history and acoustics.

Georgia Southern’s Music Department has 138 undergraduates who have declared a music major. The department offers a B.A. in Music; a B.M. in Composition, Music Education, and Performance; and a M.M. with emphases in Music Education, Music Technology, Composition, or Performance. Student can also choose a minor in music to complement other academic programs.

More information about Georgia Southern’s Music Department is available at
http://class.georgiasouthern.edu/music/.