Concert photos by R. Poppino
Tickets are offered for free to the public for many of the performances such as the Oregon State University Choirs’ concert at the Lincoln Center. Seating in the theater is reserved and tickets were available online in advance, through Music Celebrations International (MCI) and also via the Lincoln Center website. The Box Office was also open all day Sunday and was quite busy. Tourists and others in the city will pick up free tickets to whatever performance is going on, just to hear a concert at the fabulous Lincoln Center. By mid-afternoon we had reports from MCI that tickets were going so well, and so quickly, they were going to make the balcony and upstairs box seating available for the concert. Of course, not everyone who picks up a free ticket ends up using it, so while we thought we were going to have a full house, that was not the case. Nevertheless, the crowd proved to be substantial, enthusiastic, and was probably comprised of New Yorkers as well as people from all over the world, who were there because they enjoy and appreciate the performing arts. There were also some choir parents, OSU alumni, representatives of the University, the OSU Foundation and the OSU Alumni Association. The OSU entourage included Larry Rodgers, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Executive Director of the Division of Arts and Sciences; Marion Rossi, Director of the School of Arts and Communication; Lacey LaRue of the OSU Foundation and Julie Schwartz of the OSU Alumni Association, as well as others.
Nickoli Strommer, soloist
Lincoln Center is run like clockwork, and the concert began on exactly time. The first half of the concert was Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Dona Nobis Pacem,” with orchestra, all three choirs, baritone Nickoli Strommer and soprano Mari Stoner, conducted by Steven Zielke. Projections were designed by Kevin Patton, his wife Carmen and a team of professionals in New York. In the second half of the concert, each choir performed a short program individually, but the range of repertoire was broad and interesting, from the Meistersingers’ beautiful “Lux Arumque” to Bella Voce’s colorful “Wedding Qawaali,”
Wedding Qawaali, Bella Voce
with scarves and dancers, to the Chamber Choir’s unique “Epitaph for Moonlight” with 3-D visuals, to Roosevelt and the Chamber Choir’s joyful and uplifting “Over my Head/I Hear Music in the Air.”
What a concert it was! The theater is beautiful, acoustically perfect – designed specifically for this type of performance. The orchestra was a top notch professional orchestra. Our OSU conductors are experienced and so talented. Mari and Nickoli are also highly experienced and well on their way to professional singing careers.
Roosevelt Credit with the Chamber Choir
Roosevelt is an experienced soloist and Broadway performer. Kevin Patton and his team of artistic professionals had produced stellar visuals to accompany the Dona Nobis and several other pieces, using state of the art equipment and a huge, on-stage screen. 
And the OSU choirs. Wow! This large, wonderful group of dedicated and talented students who have put in so much time, sweat, and voice – in and outside of choir rehearsals – to learn and perfect all the pieces. They did not disappoint. That was apparent by the enthusiastic standing ovation, the broad smiles seen, and the conversations heard among the audience after the performance. It was also noted in the praise from unsolicited emails received by Steven Zielke and by Music Celebrations International:
“Hi Steven and all of the Conductors, Singers, Musicians…..What a total JOY hearing your performances at Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on Sunday. Brilliant! And the variety in programming was just wonderful. Add to all of the high musical quality the visual additions and it all added up to one of the most satisfying concerts of the New York season. We are both musicians (CCM Piano, and NYU Performance Studies) with Broadway, national tour and lots of regional credits. Bravi to all…..hope to hear more of your work in the future. Thanks and congratulations!
Jay and John”
“Very interesting, high quality, and enjoyable performance. With the exception of Roosevelt Credit, who three years ago performed with a community orchestra in which I play (what a thrill it was to rehearse and perform with him), I was unfamiliar with Oregon State University’s music program. Glad my eyes and ears were opened. Again, thank you.”
“Hi Dan, I just wanted to say thank you and congratulations again! You worked SO hard to make this a very successful day for Oregon State. Thank you so much for including us in your plans. All the instrumentalists had a wonderful time, were very impressed with the students and with Steve. Please convey my thanks to him as well. It was a memorable afternoon and we were so happy to be a part of it.All the best and thank you, Sato”
“Very impressive ensembles. All were enjoyable and well prepared. The men’s ensemble and the chamber choir were especially finely tuned. It was a delightful evening of fine singing and artistry.Thanks for your efforts to coordinate audience with ensemble! All the best, Joshua”
“Thanks Daniel… We went to the concert this afternoon.. If you get the chance to pass this along.. Please tell the choir that we thoroughly enjoyed it. The Vaughan Williams was very moving.. Beautifully sung. The soprano was superb. We also loved the second half. What a disciplined, joyous and heart-felt performance. I had tears. And I felt that the future of choral music is in good hands. Thanks again. Susan Mahoney, Joe Fiorito, Toronto, Canada”
Congratulations to all. You have worked hard. You have made memories, stretched yourselves, gotten out of your comfort zone, traveled, and grown. You “have had singing.” Hopefully you have had fun and learned a lot along the way.
