Chamber Choir:
A Song for St. Cecelia’s Day: Theron Kirk
Bana Seni Gerek Seni: Kenneth Walicki*
Four Pastorales: Cecil Effinger with Jonathan Marzluf, oboe
A Boy and a Girl: Eric Whitacre
Go, Lovely Rose: Whitacre
With a Lily in Your Hand: Whitacre

Choral director and conductor Robert Istad brings Cal State Fullerton alumnus James Martin Schaefer to campus to perform with the University Singers in the opening concert of the Viva Voce! series premiere season.

An active performer throughout California, Schaefer recently made his main-stage principal role debut with Opera Pacific as Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Other recent appearances include baritone soloist in Igor Stravinsky’s ballet Les Noces with Les Grande Ballet Canadien de Montreal and as the Jailer in Puccini’s Tosca with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra directed by John Mauceri. A member of Opera Pacific’s O.P.E.R.A. artist program, he’s also had roles in Puccini’s Turandot and Verdi’s La Traviata to name a few.

As a soloist, he’s performed Faure’s Requiem under the baton of Bobby McFerrin and appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops Esplanade! Orchestra and the Long Beach Symphony.

Cal State Fullerton is home to a long and esteemed choral program. The two top vocal groups, the University Singers and Chamber Choir, share this evening program. Over the years the University Singers have delighted audiences on tour with the Boston Pops Esplanade! Orchestra and Andrea Bocelli, plus at their annual Carol Candlelight concert.

The Chamber Choir has toured throughout the world performing from the Sistine Chapel to “down under.” Most recently, this past summer composer Eric Whitacre contacted Istad, requesting the Chamber Choir to record the chorus parts for his new electronic musical “Paradise Lost” which they did for the summer premiere.

* Ken Walicki is an active composer and area coordinator of the Cal State Fullerton composition area. He has had works commissioned by the Kronos Quartet, and received grants from the NEA, American Composers Forum and Meet the Composer.