The University of Mount Union Concert Choir will collaborate with the
Canton Symphony Orchestra to present a concert at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday,
November 4 at Umstattd Performing Arts Hall located at Canton McKinley
High School.
The concert, “In Memory — Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C Minor,” is one of the most important and transformational musical works of the 19th
century, according to Dr. Grant Cook, associate professor of music and
director of choral activities at Mount Union. Mahler’s symphony,
completed in 1894, ends with both orchestra and chorus.
According to Cook, the 53-member concert choir successfully
collaborated with the Canton Symphony Orchestra in a performance of
Joseph Haydn’s “St. Theresa Mass” in February 2012. As a result, the
choir was invited to perform with the Symphony on its 2012-2013
Masterworks Series.
“My goal in accepting this invitation was twofold,” Cook said. “One
goal was to continue to foster this artistic partnership and another was
to challenge the students to prepare and perform to the level of
professional musicians.”
During its rehearsals three days a week, the choir is carving out
time to prepare for the CSO performance in addition to preparing for a
number of other upcoming concerts.
“We are all simply honored,” Cook said of the upcoming CSO performance. “We are prepared and ready for the experience.”
For more information on the concert, see cantonsymphony.org.