Daily Pioneer News

The UW-Platteville Coro D'Angeli women's choir, pictured in a December 2003 performance, was among a select number of groups chosen to sing at the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association's annual convention Jan. 14.

PLATTEVILLE - The Coro D'Angeli women's choir at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville has grown and prospered since its formation seven years ago. A testament to the choir's achievements, Coro D'Angeli is among a select number of groups to perform at the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association's 2005 Convention.

Coro D'Angeli is to perform Friday, Jan. 14 at the convention on the Lawrence University campus in Appleton.

Every year, groups from around the state audition to appear at the convention. The 50 women of the UWP choir will be among nine vocal ensembles selected from state elementary and middle schools, high schools and colleges.

"I'm proud of them for having achieved this. It represents for them a reaching of a new watershed, a new level in their development," said Bob Demaree, director of the Coro D'Angeli choir at UWP. "Especially for the women in the group who have been with us for a while, this is a validation of years of work."

The all-women's group complements the university's all-men's Singing Pioneers, and both sexes can perform in a number of co-ed mixed ensembles and choirs. The name "Coro D'Angeli" means "choir of angels," and music department faculty had high hopes for the group when it was formed in 1997. "We always wanted it to be a high quality standalone group that was doing work at the highest levels," Demaree said.

The students in Coro D'Angeli range from freshmen to seniors, and not all of them are music majors, Demaree said. The group will perform at the convention for 30 minutes, and Demaree let them choose their own selections to sing. Having not practiced as a group in almost a month, the singers will end their winter break a week early for a rehearsal the night before the convention performance.

"It's a real challenge, and in effect they are giving up some of their vacation time to make this happen," Demaree said.

Demaree is to make a second appearance at the convention as a member of the Heartland Singers, a group of professional choral directors who joined together in 2002 to perform throughout Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. Demaree directs the group along with UWP alumnus Jason Troxel, who now teaches K-12 music in the Wauzeka-Steuben School District, and Harry Johansen, chair of the UW-Whitewater Music Department.

The next performance of the Coro D'Angeli women's choir at UW-Platteville's Center for the Arts is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20.