Dr. Paul Hondorp, Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music at WKU, will make his Carnegie Hall debut on June 10 leading a choir that will include the Southern Kentucky Choral Society.
Dr. Hondorp will lead the first three movements of
Dona Nobis Pacem
by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams; Britt Cooper, director of the Canton (Ohio) Symphony Chorus, will be on the podium for the final two movements.
“I am so excited to conduct this incredible piece of art – one of my very favorite works – on perhaps the most iconic concert stage in the world,” Dr. Hondorp said. “The combination of Whitman’s poetry, scriptural texts and Vaughan Williams’ setting are incredibly powerful, and remain so today – more than 80 years after its premiere. It is difficult not to be moved by combined voices and orchestra as the words of the final movement come forth: ‘Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.’ Dona nobis pacem.”
The Southern Kentucky Choral Society will sing alongside members of the Canton Symphony Chorus and the Bangor (Pa.) Area High School Choir.
The performance at New York’s legendary concert hall is part of MidAmerica Productions’ 36
th
concert season.
