Southeastern NEWS

                                                   Southeastern Louisiana University
                                          Public Information Office
                                          publicinfo@selu.edu
                                          SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                          504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date:  4/14/99
      Contact:                            Christina Chapple 96

Editors: Please note local interest
SLU CONCERT CHOIR PRESENTS "SPRING THING"
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University's Concert Choir will present "Spring
Thing: No Use Complainin'" at 7:30 p.m., April 26, in the Pottle Music Building Auditorium.
 The informal concert of secular music, directed by Graeme Cowen, is free to the public and is
part of the Southeastern music department's spring concert series, Encore!
     Soloists are Melissa LeBlanc of Gonzales, Rachel Desselles of Denham Springs, Kenya
Lawrence of Hammond, James Roberts of San Diego, Calif., Amanda Tarver of Prairieville,
Susan Buller of Jeanerette, Amber Klein of Gonzales, George Montalbano of Independence, and
Christopher Talley of Sun. Pianist Charles Effler of Hammond will accompany the choir.
     Cowen said the program's title, "No Use Complainin'," is taken from George Gershwin,
whose works will be featured along with Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, spirituals, folk songs and
show tunes. Also on the program are four ancient Spanish songs arranged by Joaquin Nin and
Cowen's own original compositions.
      The Concert Choir, Southeastern's premier vocal ensemble, will also perform at 7:30
p.m., May 3, at Hammond's First Baptist Church, sharing the stage with Southeastern's
University Chorus and the Northshore Choral Society. The combined choirs will sing Gabriel
Faure's Requiem, accompanied by full orchestra.
     Cowen comes to Southeastern after a diverse career as a teacher, conductor, composer
and music coordinator of music community outreach programs. He was music director of the San
Diego Master Chorale and artistic director and conductor of the renowned Singing City Choir of
Philadelphia, a 120-voice volunteer ensemble that regularly sang with the Philadelphia Orchestra
and the New York Philharmonic.
     Cowen also served as chorus master of the Indiana University Opera Theatre and, in
1990, made his conducting debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
     For additional information about the concerts, call the Southeastern music department,
504-549- 2184.
                             - SLU -
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      www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp99.htm