2011-2012 Season

An organ celebration, featuring noted British performance artist James O'Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey in London, where he is responsible for music at the daily choral services and at the many events of national significance which occur, including the recent Royal Wedding! This extraordinary opportunity to hear one of the world's leading organists is co-presented by Augustana Arts and the Denver Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. A reception immediately follows the afternoon performance, giving attendees a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Mr. O’Donnell.
"... a dazzling account of Dupré's Second Symphony left little doubt that already, the Westminster Cathedral organist is clearly among the elect."

-The Church Times, London

Featuring American masterpieces, both a cappella and accompanied, this concert by the Colorado Choir will include music by Randall Thompson and Colorado composer, Cecil Effinger. Revisit old favorites and discover new works that highlight the talents of American composers!

It’s a tour through The Olde Countrye, starting clear back in the Baroque with music of Henry Purcell’s Abdelazer, which so enraptured Benjamin Britten that he created his famous Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra based on the opening theme. Then a stroll through the lovely countryside with Two English Idylls by George Butterworth before stepping on the gangplank of the H.M.S. Pinafore for the Overture to this Gilbert & Sullivan favorite. Finally, a stirring new guitar concerto by Richard Harvey written for John Williams that draws on the best of the British musical legacy. Harvey’s Concerto Antico performed by Colorado guitarist David VanderHamm will have you smiling the whole way through.

This show is a collaboration between Boston Brass and Imani Winds in their own arrangements of Miles Davis’ and Gil Evans’ legendary studio albums Porgy and Bess (1958) and Sketches of Spain (1960).

Love is in the air as the Colorado Women's Chorale joins with the DU Men's Choir in an exciting celebration of love! In addition to selections about our favorite emotion, the choirs will give a joint performance of Wedding Cantata, by 20th Century American composer, Daniel Pinkham.

Join the Colorado Choir for an extraordinary evening as they present a delightful bouquet of colorful music. Celebrate the newness of spring and the promise of summer!

How is American music different from its European counterpart? To answer that question, we conclude the season with four pieces - two American, two European - juxtaposed to highlight their similarities and differences. American composer David Diamond's Rounds for String Orchestra is followed by Russian folk music Miniatures by Georgian composer Sulkhan Tsintsadze, featuring violinist Britt Swenson. The second half of the program sets Dvorak's Czech Suite alongside Colorado composer Cecil Effinger's Pulitzer Prize winning piece, Little Symphony #1.