South Bend Chamber Singers to Perform “Radiant Russian”

south bend chamber singers standing in a groupContact:
Gwen O’Brien 
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Ind. 46556
(574) 284-4579

April 23, 2015 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—The South Bend Chamber Singers (SBCS) will be perform their concert entitled Radiant Russian on Sunday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Church of Our Lady of Loretto on the Saint Mary’s campus. Nancy Menk, professor of music and director of choral activities at Saint Mary’s College, will conduct. There will also be a pre-concert lecture entitled “The World of Sacred Russian Music” given by Mark Roosien, a Ph.D. student in Liturgical Studies at the University of Notre Dame, at 6:30 p.m. in the church. (Click for a campus map.)

“This concert will feature music from the vast collection of Russian sacred a cappella choral music, most of which will be heard for the first time in South Bend,” explained Menk. “I am thrilled to have the chance to perform this wonderful repertoire in such a great acoustical space.”

Along with pieces for mixed voices, the concert will also feature works for women and men alone. This is a body of work that the Chamber Singers have rarely dipped into over the last 25 years. Featured composers will include Alexander Arkhangelsky, Maxim Berezovsky, Dimitry Bortniansky, Pavel Chesnikov, Alexander Gretchaninov, Viktor Kalinnikov, Alexander Kastalsky, Sergei Rakhmaninov, Artem Vedel, Georgy Sviridov, and others.

The SBCS, an ensemble-in-residence at Saint Mary’s College, was founded in 1989 and the 30 members have extensive musical backgrounds. The SBCS draws members from throughout north central Indiana and southwestern Michigan. The ensemble concentrates on works by living composers, but its repertoire includes traditional compositions and unusual and complex arrangements.

Tickets can be purchased at moreaucenter.com or by visiting the Moreau Center box office in person Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by calling (574) 284-4626. Ticket prices range from $6 for Saint Mary’s/Holy Cross/Notre Dame students; $11 for faculty and staff; $13 for senior citizens; and $16 for adults.

About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. In the fall of 2015 Saint Mary’s College will begin to offer two graduate degrees: a Master of Science and a Doctorate. All programs that fall under these degrees are co-educational and include a Master of Science in Data Science, a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College’s mission is to educate students, develop their talents, and prepare them to make a difference in the world. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2015 published by U.S. News & World Report.

~Maggie McLaughlin ’16, media relations intern, wrote this press release. 

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