Next month, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Symphony Orchestra and choirs will join together to perform Haydn’s “Mass in D Minor,” also known as the “Lord Nelson Mass.” The concert will take place Sunday, March 5 at 3 p.m. in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts.
Megan Maddaleno oversees the UW-Platteville Symphony Orchestra and will conduct the performance. The Chamber Choir, led by Bob Demaree, and the University Singers, led by Stephanie Klein, will combine to serve as the chorus.
“This mass is performed regularly by professional ensembles around the world, and we are so lucky to be putting on such an event,” said Maddaleno. “We are even more excited to share the featured soloists on this concert are recent UW-Platteville alumni who are out in the professional world, making us proud.”
Four UW-Platteville alumni are returning as soloists for the concert – Sara Jordan, Abby Goodhall, Nathan Greve and Keaton Payne. Rebekah Demaree, senior lecturer of music at UW-Platteville, will also sing alongside them.
Payne, a 2021 UW-Platteville graduate, is currently earning a master’s degree in vocal performance from North Park University in Chicago, Illinois, where he is assistant to the director of choral activities and sings with several groups on and off campus. He said he is most looking forward to next month’s performance to both reunite with colleagues and take on a challenge.
“I owe everything about the musician I am today to Bob and Becky Demaree, Stephanie Klein and all of the other wonderful professors at UW-Platteville,” said Payne. “Everyone in the program just gets it. What ‘it’ is can be very hard to explain; it's just something you can feel. The combination of great technique, pedagogy, methods, love and care can only say so much. I left feeling like I was truly given the tools for success and knew I had to further my education in music.”
Goodhall graduated last spring and is currently co-choral director at Parker High School in Janesville, Wisconsin. “During my time as a student teacher, I taught all of the solos in this piece. Being able to perform the solos myself will be a full circle moment for me,” said Goodhall. “I am excited to be back on UW-Platteville’s stage and have the opportunity to make music with present and past UW-Platteville students, all in a place that holds so many wonderful memories.”
Jordan graduated last December and has been directing middle and high school chorus in Brodhead, Wisconsin, as well as singing with area choral groups.
“I am eager to step foot back on the Brodbeck stage in March,” said Jordan. “I have truly missed performing and challenging myself as a vocalist. I am so excited to reconnect with my past professors and fellow classmates as we take on the Lord Nelson Mass.”
Tickets for the performance can be purchased online at tickets.uwplatt.edu.