Tabor Concert Choir to perform at KMEA
For the third time in eight years, the Tabor College concert choir has been selected to perform at the annual Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) state festival.
The performance will take place at 9:50 a.m. Feb. 23, at the Mary Jane Teal Theatre, Century II, in Wichita. Admission is free.
In preparation for the KMEA performance, the public is invited to attend a "pre-KMEA" concert at 2 p.m., Feb. 18 at the Hillsboro High School auditorium.
The pre-concert will feature the Tabor College concert choir as well as the Hillsboro High School men's ensemble, also performing at the KMEA state festival.
"I've never seen it happen when a local high school and the local college — in a small town — are both invited [to perform at KMEA]," said Tabor choir director Bradley Vogel.
To make it to the KMEA stage, three recordings of the choir were submitted for review by a panel of judges. Through a blind audition, Tabor competed against such schools as Kansas State University, Wichita State University, and Kansas University to receive their spot at the festival.
According to Vogel, because of the choir's small size and the variety of majors represented in the choir, being selected to perform at KMEA is an accomplishment to be proud of.
"The choir is very focused right now in achieving a high level of musicianship," said Vogel. "[Being selected] raises awareness of the school as a 'player' in music among all colleges, and also a place where good singers who choose not to major in music can still participate in a good choir."
The 35-minute performance will feature repertoire revolving around the theme, "But We See Jesus." Vogel arranged the performance in two sections, woven together by the use of Gregorian chant.
