Contact: Andrea Ebeling, Public Relations Assistant, 920-832-6585 or andrea.ebeling@lawrence.edu
For Immediate Release
November 15, 2006

Lawrence Symphony Orchestra and Choirs Present Songs by British Composers

APPLETON, WIS. — The Lawrence University Symphony Orchestra and Choirs present "The British Are Coming" at 8:00 p.m. December 1 in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel. Under the direction of Richard Bjella and Phillip A. Swan, the concert will feature works by British composers including Ralph Vaughan Williams, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Benjamin Britten, and more.

The Viking Chorale will sing several selections including Rejoice in the Lord arranged by Jeffrey Rickard and Joy to the World by G.F. Handel. The Concert Choir will perform Salvator mundi by Tallis, O Beatum et sacrosanctum diem by Peter Phillips, and Jubilate Deo in D by Henry Purcell, among other selections. The Cantala women's choir will perform Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. The combined choirs and the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra will perform two selections by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Dona nobis pacem, which includes a solo by Melissa Kelly '00, soprano, and Let All the World in Ev'ry Corner Sing from Five Mystical Songs, which includes a solo by Keith Harris '98, baritone.

Before the concert, James DeCorsey, associate professor of music, will deliver a talk discussing the works on the "British Are Coming" program at 7:15 p.m. in Harper Hall.

Bjella is the director of choral studies and leads the Concert Choir, Chorale, and Collegium Musicum. Swan is the associate director of choral studies. He is responsible for directing the Women's Choir.

Tickets for the concert are $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and students and are available at the Lawrence University Box Office, located in the Music-Drama Center or by phone at 920-832-6749. Tickets, if available, will also be sold beginning one hour before the concert at the box office.