William Skoog, conductor
The Rhodes MasterSingers Chorale is a semi-professional choral ensemble made up of music professionals, community members, faculty, staff, students and choral alumni of Rhodes College.
The purpose of the MasterSingers Chorale is embodied in our philosophy:
Choral performance offers a most personal and universal human expression. A singer’s voice is part of the body, and the sounds made by a choral ensemble are sculpted from the breath of each individual singer blended into one collective voice. A choir is, in the words of Robert Shaw, “A Community of Expression;” it is the only musical instrument that can collectively present text in harmony and counterpoint. These musical complexities coupled with powerful texts create sonorities of limitless beauty and inspiration that challenge, soothe, excite, and delight.
Since 1993, the Rhodes MasterSingers Chorale has presented major choral-orchestral works throughout the region, and specializes in challenging works not frequently performed. In the spring of 2014, MasterSingers Chorale presented a concert with music of Dave Brubeck, with Darius Brubeck present as a guest artist. In summer of 2014, members of the MasterSingers Chorale performed at the prestigious Paris International Choral Festival, presenting the European premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s The Singing Rooms, and Fauré’s Requiem in La Madeleine, the church in which it premiered. The MasterSingers also performed at a wreath-laying ceremony at the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach on July 4th, as part of the 70th Anniversary Commemoration of D-Day.
In July 2014, members performed Faure’s Requiem at La Madeleine, where the work premiered, and participated in the European premier of Pulitzer Prize winning composer Jennifer Higdon’s The Singing Rooms for the Paris International Choral Festival. In 2012, members of this ensemble performed at the distinguished Mozart Festival, singing Mozart’s Missa Solemnis and Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna in the Salzburg Dom, performing also in Prague and Vienna. In 2010, members participated in the International Festivale di Roma.
In 2004, the Rhodes MasterSingers Chorale made its Carnegie Hall debut with a performance of Morten Lauridsen’s Madrigali, O Magnum Mysterium and Lux Aeterna.
Auditions are held at the beginning of each semester (August and January) in the Rhodes Music Building, Hassell Hall. For more information, please contact Katherine Robinson.