NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

3/18/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-Northwestern State University's Chamber Choir was part of the New Orleans premiere performance of composer Robert Kapilow's"'03: This New, Immense, Unbounded World" Saturday at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans.

The Chamber Choir joined choirs from Nicholls State and Delgado Community College along with the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra's Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Concert.

"It was an honor to have an opportunity to perform with these groups," said Chamber Choir member Laura McPhie of Minden. "They did not have to ask us to perform, but they saw the quality of our choir and the time and effort we put into performing the work."

The Chamber Choir is conducted by Dr. Burt Allen, who had the choir working on Kapilow's composition last fall. Kapilow was pleased with what he saw and heard from the NSU choir. In addition to the New Orleans performance, the Chamber Choir was also featured in a segment on Kapilow broadcast on Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

About 200 choral members were involved in Saturday's performance.

"It was a lot of fun and quite memorable," said Chamber Choir member Selese McPhie of Minden. "There were people in the Symphony Chorus of all ages, some in their 50's of 60's who love to sing. It was interesting how we all came together."

The Orpheum Theater was built in 1921 and renovated in 1989. It is reminiscent of many classic European opera houses with an ornate vaulted ceiling and baroque-inspired decoration. The theater is an example of "vertical hall" construction built to provide perfect sight lines and acoustics for the vaudeville shows that didn't have the benefit of amplifiers or modern lighting.

"It was wonderful to have an opportunity to perform there as a musician," said Laura McPhie. "It is a very interesting theatre."

Commissioned by the LPO and the State of Louisiana, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, "'03 This New, Immense, Unbounded World" is a tribute to the Louisiana Purchase. The New Orleans premiere of Kapilow's work also recognized the contributions the Claiborne family has made to the life of this country, and honored Lindy Claiborne Boggs, former Congresswoman and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican on her 87th birthday.

Main Menu