Five UNC Charlotte choral students were invited to participate in the inauguration of Margaret Spellings, the 18th president of the University of North Carolina system. This event took place on Thursday, October 13, at 10:00 a.m. in Memorial Hall on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus; it was broadcast live on WUNC-TV.
President Spellings requested the formation of a diverse choir made up of an SATB quartet from each of the 17 UNC schools. A choral music aficionado herself, she chose “The Road Not Taken” (from Frostiana) by Randall Thompson, and “Amazing Grace” (arranged by John Rutter) to be performed in the ceremony.
Our participating students were soprano Larsen Sigmon, mezzo-soprano Cara Sherill, tenor Benjamin Lulliano, baritone Kyle McCoy, and bass James Matens. The UNC Charlotte community may recognize them from their previous appearance as the small vocal ensemble at the University New Student Convocation on August 22, 2016, and will see them once again at the Music In the Glen performance series at Van Landingham Glen on the campus of UNC Charlotte.
The University Chorale remains as active as ever, performing this Friday, October 21, for the International Orthodox Christian Charities Pan-Orthodox National Banquet in the sanctuary of St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church. Immediately following, the Chorale departs on a tour of North Carolina, stopping and performing at 14 different high schools throughout the state, with two final stops for special services at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in uptown Charlotte, and again at Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church in south Charlotte.
The Chorale’s final performance of the semester will be of contemporary classics for Christmas on December 5 in Robinson Hall.