Chamber Singers present encore performance of First Concert ever performed at UW-Fond du Lac

The Fond du Lac Chamber Singers kick-off UW-Fond du Lac’s 40th anniversary celebration at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24 in the Prairie Theater, 400 University Drive, with an encore performance of the First Concert ever held at the campus.

The first musical concert was held at the campus in January of 1969 in the former student center and was appropriately entitled “First Concert." When a copy of the concert program from 1969 surfaced, UW-Fond du Lac Music Professor and Associate Dean Patricia Eby saw the chance to do an encore and invite back some of the original participants.

“It just seemed fitting to re-create the first of forty years of wonderful musical concerts on our campus and it seemed a good time to reunite many of the ‘firsts’ on the campus again,” said Eby.

The first half of the “First Concert” consists of choral classics including the opening piece “Ave Verum Corpus” by William Byrd which will be directed by Dr. Ray Wifler, the first music director at the campus and the conductor at the performance in 1969.

“In keeping with the re-creation of the first concert, I asked Ray Wifler to conduct the first piece,” said Eby. “He graciously agreed to be a part of the program.”

The second half of the program features UW-Fond du Lac alumni musicians doing an encore of their performances at the “First Concert” forty years ago. Scheduled to perform are Rich Zangl, Ralph Schwartz, Barb Mueller Louis, Pricilla Luedtke Ehlert, Elaine Schwartz Rebek, and Mike Soffa.

“All of the alumni musicians were gracious in responding to the invitation,” said Eby. That just proves how much music means to students – and how it is carried throughout a lifetime.”

The UW-Fond du Lac Foundation will be hosting a coffee and dessert reception following the concert.

“UW-Fond du Lac has a rich history as a cultural and educational resource,” notes Christa Williams, executive director of the UW-Fond du Lac Foundation. “We are happy to support the opportunity for alumni and members of the community and campus to gather and celebrate at UW-Fond du Lac following this encore performance.”

The Fond du Lac Chamber Singers will be performing the first half of the concert which includes, in addition to “Ave Verum Corpus,” two chorales from the “Christmas Oratorio” by J.S. Bach and three movements from Schubert’s “Mass in F” accompanied by UW-Fond du Lac’s Melissa Martiros. A select octet of Chamber Singers will sing “Matona, Lovely Maiden by di Lasso.”

The Chamber Singers, formed in 1996, are an auditioned group of singers including both students and community members under the direction of Eby.

Advance tickets for the concert and are $6 for adults, $2 for area students and free for UW-Fond du Lac students. Tickets sold at the door are $2 more.

Tickets can be purchased now in the UW-Fond du Lac Business Office (M-F, 8-4:30) or by phone with a credit card at (920) 929-1111.

Funding support for this event is provided by UW-Fond du Lac Student Life & Interest Committee, UW-Fond du Lac Foundation and CitizensFirst Credit Union.

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