South Bend Chamber Singers to Present Musical Performance Devoted to Animals

May 3, 2016 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—The South Bend Chamber Singers, under the direction of Saint Mary’s music professor Nancy Menk, will join with the Notre Dame Children’s Choir, under the direction of Mark Doerries, to perform “Choral Creatures: Music Devoted to All Animals, Great and Small” on Sunday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Savior, 1855 N. Hickory Rd., South Bend.  Ticket information can be found at MoreauCenter.com.

The choirs have commissioned a new work for the occasion from Chicago-based composer Paul Carey. Carey has set seven poems from Carmen Bernos de Gasztold’s “Prayers from the Ark” into song. Noah’s prayer begins the set followed by the prayers of the cat, the swallow, the bear, the little pig, the tortoise, and the little ducks. Carey uses modern harmonies, many based on mid- to late 20th century jazz musicians (e.g., George Gershwin, John Coltrane and his pianist McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans, Ahmad Jamal, and more). Other pieces in the program feature music about the panther, cow, firefly, kangaroo, along with many others. Josh Sisk, Potawatomi Zoo curator, will narrate the concert.

South Bend Chamber Singers
"Choral Creatures: Music Devoted to All Animals, Great and Small"
7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 22
The Church of the Savior
South Bend, IN
Tickets $6-$16
574.284.4626 | moreaucenter.com

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. Saint Mary’s College also offers 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 seeks, according to its mission statement, 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 2016 published by U.S. News & World Report. Follow Saint Mary's College on Twitter @saintmarys and @saintmarysnews. 

Contact for more information: Nancy Menk Chair of the department of music nmenk@saintmarys.edu (574) 233-6927, Mark Doerries mdoerrie@nd.edu, Paul Carey Paulcarey440@yahoo.com, Josh Sisk jsisk@potawatomizoo.org.