King College Symphonic Choir
Performs at Carnegie Hall

The King College Symphonic Choir performed two Morten Lauridsen pieces in conductor Timothy W. Sharp’s "All-Lauridsen" program at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 13.

"This is the first time the King College Symphonic Choir has preformed in Carnegie Hall," Dr. Pat Flannagan, Chairman of the Performing and Visual Arts Dept. and Conductor of the Choir, said. "It is such an honor for the students to sing at Carnegie Hall where the acoustics are world-renowned. We’ve been practicing since February to prepare for this once in a lifetime experience."

Dr. Sharp invited the choir to perform these two of Lauridsen’s most popular pieces, "Lux Aeterna" ("Eternal Light") and "O Magnum Mysterium" ("Oh, Great Mystery"). Several other choirs from all over the country will also perform in the "All-Lauridsen" program.

Lauridsen has emerged as one of America's finest and most-beloved composers. His distinguished music has reached a permanent place in the standard vocal repertoire, and is performed regularly by choirs and vocal artists throughout the world. "O Magnum Mysterium" and "Dirait-on" from Les Chansons des Roses have become two of the highestselling choral octavos. In addition to his residency with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Lauridsen is chair of the composition department at the University of Southern California School of Music in Los Angeles.

Sharp is chair of the department of music and is the Elizabeth G. Daughdrill chair in the fine arts at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., where he conducts the Rhodes Singers, MasterSingers Chorale and Rhodes Orchestra. Dr. Sharp is a former faculty member at King College.

Following the performance, composer Lauridsen sent a letter to conductor Tim Sharp and all choirs that performed that day. In the words of the composer himself, he shared with everyone that "my ears are still ringing with the sounds of your glorious performances at Carnegie Hall. This truly was a concert that will be remembered for a long, long time to come. Everyone who took part in the concert should feel a great deal of pride in performing these various pieces of mine so beautifully and with such understanding."

While in New York City, choir members enjoyed an opera and a Broadway show, explored museums, and were seen on NBC’s Today Show.