Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts will host performance excerpts from Handel’s "Messiah" on March 12. The program will help to raise money for the UWP music scholarship program and will feature students performing alongside faculty, as well as guest artists. This will be one of the last performances under the direction of UWP choral conductor Greg Dennis, who will retire in May.

The oratorio is divided into three sections and chronicles the birth, life and redemption of Christ. Bob Demaree, UWP professor of music and director of choral activities, explained that the March performance will focus on parts two and three of the oratorio, including the well-known Hallelujah Chorus at the end of Part II.

"Many people may have seen or be more familiar with Part I which is traditionally performed during the Christmas season, so I think the audience will enjoy this seasonally appropriate performance as we approach Easter,"he said.

In addition to the university's three mixed choirs - the Chamber Choir, University Singers and the Concert Choir - the Platteville Chamber Chorale and Mount Horeb Chamber Chorale, both of which are directed by Dennis, will also participate in the performance. A number of UWP and guest soloists will also perform: Susan Savage Day and Rebekah Demaree, both on staff with the performing and visual arts department, will share the soprano part; Kathleen Otterson, music professor at Edgewood College will sing mezzo soprano; Bob Demaree will sing tenor; and Harry Johansen, professor emeritus at UW-Whitewater, will sing bass. The orchestra will also feature a wide array of professional talent, including UWP faculty members, who will play alongside select students.

"This promises to be a wonderful evening of music and I think the audience is in for quite a treat,"said Demaree. "It's a great opportunity for Greg to conduct our many talented students and the community choirs he has engaged with for so many years. It's also an opportunity for us as a faculty and a community to show solidarity with our students as we raise money for scholarships which helps to keep the quality of our music program at the level people have come to expect of UWP. We look forward to a great audience and know we'll have a lot of community support," he said.

The performance will be held at the UWP Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices for this fundraiser are $12 for general admission and $8 for UWP students with identification and children under 18. Anyone interested in learning more about the performance may contact the CFA Box Office at (608) 342-1298.

Contact: Bob Demaree, professor of music, UWP Department of Performing and Visual Arts, (608) 342-1446, demaree@uwplatt.edu Written By: Evelyn Martens, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, martense@uwplatt.edu