Fresno State Chamber Singers, Dr. Anna Hamre, Director

 
California State Music Educators' Conference
Fresno State Chamber Singers to present
Newly Commissioned Work
March 15, 2003, Pasadena, CA

 
The California State University, Fresno Chamber Singers will present the
world premier of a new three-movement work commemorating the
September 11 tragedy at the California State Music Educators'
Conference on March 15 in Pasadena.

The Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dr. Anna Hamre, assistant
music professor, were invited to perform at the annual gathering of
music teachers from throughout the state. The new work, “For Whom
the Bell Tolls,” will be the finale of their performance.

The singers will repeat the performance on April 22 in the Concert Hall
at Fresno State. The 8 p.m. campus concert kicks off the group’s
three-day spring tour.

Hamre and a colleague at Chico State University commissioned Bradley
Nelson, a San Diego composer, conductor and teacher, to write a piece
for a double choir following the September 11 tragedy.

Nelson’s "For Whom the Bell Tolls" uses two World War I-era anthems,
“Anthem for Doomed Youth” and “In Flanders Field” and traditional
“Agnus Dei” (Lamb of God) text but infuses powerful, striking
avant-gard techniques.

The 22-member Chico State Chamber Singers will join the 29 Fresno
singers for the Pasadena performance. The piece was written for double
choir, piano and percussion.

The invitation marks the first time in recent years that a choral group
from Fresno State has been invited to perform for the music educators,
Hamre said. Accompanying the singers will be Natasha Kislenko, piano;
Dr. Teresa Beaman, flute; and Mike Downing and Rainbow Tanner-Dorn,
percussion.

For more information, call Dr. Hamre at 278-2539. Hear an audio clip of
the Chamber Singers at www.FresnoStateNews.com