NEWS RELEASE

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

3/20/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Laura and Selese McPhie have many things in common and one of the most important is music. The twin sisters from Minden will be part of the NSU Chamber Choir when they perform Monday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

The Chamber Choir will present several selected madrigals by Franz Schubert performed by small ensembles. Also on the program are "Trois Chansons de Charles d'Orleans" by Claude Debussy featuring soprano Whitney Sanders, alto Mary Dirks, tenor Chris Ware and bass Hunter Jenkins. The Chamber Choir will also perform "When Rooks Fly Homeward" by Arthur Baynon, "J'entend le moulin" arranged by Donald Partiquin, "The Lark in Clear Air" by Donald Cashmore" and John Rutter's "The Heavenly Aeroplane."

"We like the variety of pieces that we perform each concert," said Selese McPhie. "It's better for us and more interesting for the audience. We've done works in French, Russian, German, Italian and more."

Despite all they have in common, Laura and Selese have chosen different career paths. Laura is a vocal performance major while Selese is majoring in nursing.

"I was majoring in music education but I decided to change," said Laura McPhie. "I have always liked to sing and I can't imagine doing anything else. It would be easier for me to express myself through a song than by talking to a class."

Selese says she will never completely give up music.

"Even though I am going into a different field, I will always be involved in music even if it's in the church choir," said Selese.

The main musical influences on the McPhies were not their parents, but their grandmother along with a great aunt.

"We got started on her piano when we were five or six," said Selese. "We were doing creative and performing arts forever. At day care, we had arts and crafts lessons every day. That was a huge influence as well."

"We were around them in that environment at a time when they could be influential," said Laura, who is also a member of the "Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band. "I also wanted to be in the band and starting doing that. I was in choir in fifth grade. They didn't have it in middle school, but I started again once I got into high school."

Both Laura and Selese have high praise for Director of Choral Activities Dr. Burt Allen, who conducts the Chamber Choir.

"People come here with different backgrounds and after Dr. Allen works with them, they improve," said Selese. "I know I have improved a lot in three years."

Laura McPhie said Allen has great enthusiasm for his work.

"He is energetic in what he does. He loves being a choral director," she said. "It is easy for you to understand how to sing a note. He is really good at explaining what is going on."

The NSU Concert Choir under the direction of Ron Mayfield will perform "Cantique de Jean Racine" by Gabriel Faure' selections from "Four Pastorals" by Cecil Effinger and "Who Hath a Right to Sing" by Lloyd Pfautsch.

Betsy Allums Wildhalm is the accompanist.

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