Dundee University Choir has been invited to perform in one of the world’s most prestigious concert halls.
The musicians will be at the Lincoln Centre, in New York, on April 7 to perform Mass in Blue: The Music of Will Todd.
The invitation was issued by the Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY). The Dundee singers will be joining other choristers to form the Distinguished Concerts Singers International.
Dundee University Choir will spend about five days in the Big Apple. While some of those will include as much as nine hours of rehearsal time, they have organised some sightseeing.
Graeme Stevenson, director of music at Dundee University, said he is “thrilled” to be taking part in the concert.
“It’s incredibly exciting,” he said. “We are honoured to take part because you have to be specially invited.
“There will be a lot of time rehearsing but we will make sure to get some cultural things done while we’re there to make the most of it.
“We’d been in touch with Will Todd before about doing something and did Mass in Blue a few years ago, which was fabulous fun.
“We commissioned him to write a carol for us and that was included in a recent release of his, so I like to think we are a natural fit for the show.”
The Dundee choir is made up of current and former students and staff of the university. One of the 11 members has been with the choir for 18 years.
Dr Jonathan Griffith, artistic director and principle conductor for DCINY, said: “The Dundee University Choir received this invitation because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers as well as the exceptional quality of their audition recording.
“It is quite an honour just to be invited to New York. These wonderful musicians not only represent a high quality of music and education, but they also become ambassadors for the entire community.
“This is an event of extreme pride for everybody and deserving of the community’s recognition and support.”
Will Todd is an English composer whose Mass in Blue has been performed all over the world since its debut in 2003.
He will be present for the shows as composer-in-residence. Dr James Meaders will lead the performance.
