The Brownwood High School A Cappella Choir has been invited to perform John Rutter’s “Gloria” with the Howard Payne University ensemble, University Singers, thanks to the vision of Dr. Gregory Church, Associate Professor of Music for Howard Payne University, and director of University Singers, along with Mrs. Cindy Franklin, the newest addition to the Brownwood ISD Choral Department.
University Singers is a non-audition choir, made up of HPU students and community members from Brownwood, Early and the surrounding areas.
This year, Dr. Church has issued an invitation to A Cappella Choir to join University Singers in performing John Rutter’s “Gloria” on Tuesday, December 3rd. This concert will open the Christmas concert season for both HPU and Brownwood ISD.
Dr. Church also extends the invitation to the singers among Brownwood ISD staff, A Cappella Choir member’s parents, as well as any A Cappella Alumni in the area who would like to join us in preparing to sing this major work. A variety of other pieces will also be included in the evening’s concert, ranging from Hot Chocolate from “The Polar Express” to “Betelehemu”, an a cappella Nigerian carol, sung in the original Yoruban language, accompanied by conga, bongos, and tambourines.University Singers meets on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Davidson Music Complex on the HPU Campus.
“This is a great opportunity for A Cappella Choir to be able to learn and perform a major choral work, as well as to work with a vocal instructor and choral conductor of Dr. Church’s caliber”, said Mrs. Franklin. “I’m looking forward to sharing this music with the students and letting them be involved in something that few high school choirs get to experience.”
A Cappella Choir will be working on the music during their choir class during the week.
Dr. Church will rehearse with the choir on Fridays during the semester, leading up to the concert. A Cappella members are encouraged to also attend University Singers rehearsals on Monday nights, as they are available during the semester.
