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Chamber Singers to present newly commissioned work

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The Fresno State Chamber Singers presented the world premier of a new three-movement work commemorating the September 11 tragedy at the California State Music Educators' Conference last month in Pasadena.

The Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dr. Anna Hamre, assistant music professor, were invited to perform at the annual gathering of music teachers from throughout the state. The new work, "For Whom the Bell Tolls," was the finale of their performance.

The singers will repeat the performance on April 22 in the Concert Hall at Fresno State. The 8 p.m. campus concert kicks off the group's three-day spring tour. Admission is $6 general, $5 faculty/staff/seniors and $4 students.

Hamre and a colleague at Chico State University commissioned Bradley Nelson, a San Diego composer, conductor and teacher, to write a piece for a double choir following the September 11 tragedy.

Nelson's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" uses two World War I-era anthems, "Anthem for Doomed Youth" and "In Flanders Field" and traditional "Agnus Dei" (Lamb of God) text but infuses powerful, striking, avant-gard techniques. The 22-member Chico State Chamber Singers joined the 29 Fresno singers for the Pasadena performance. The piece was written for double choir, piano and percussion.

The invitation marks the first time in recent years that a choral group from Fresno State has been invited to perform for the music educators, Hamre said. Accompanying the singers will be Natasha Kislenko, piano; Dr. Teresa Beaman, flute; and Mike Downing and Rainbow Tanner-Dorn, percussion.

Hear an audio clip of the Chamber Singers at www.FresnoStateNews.com.

Back to University Journal, 4/03 Issue