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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Renowned St. Olaf College Choral Master Guest Conducts Oregon Adventist Men's Chorus Concerts
Portland, Ore. - World-renowned choral conductor Dr. Anton Armstrong, of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., will guest conduct the Oregon Adventist Men's Chorus (OAMC) in their annual festival concerts on Saturday, May 6, at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church, 10501 SE Market St., Portland. The two concerts are free, however organizers recommend that tickets be reserved in advance by calling (503) 841-8492 or by visiting the OAMC web site at www.oamc.org. A freewill offering will be collected during each concert to offset concert expenses. Earlier this year, Armstrong was awarded the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching, the single largest award given to an individual for great teaching, by Baylor University. A 1978 alumnus, Armstrong has been the Harry R. and Thora H. Tosdal Professor of Music at St. Olaf since 1990. He is known for his work with youth and children's choruses. He began his tenure as conductor of the Oregon Bach Festival Youth Choral Academy in 1998. Dr. Armstrong describes the OAMC program, called "Come Into My Heart, Lord Jesus," more of a worship service than a concert. The program is comprised of hymns, spirituals, folks songs and classical pieces, including a cappella pieces. Unlike most of the OAMC's annual festival concerts, the accompanying instrumentation is fairly simple yet effective and appropriate. Most accompaniment will be on piano by Kraig Scott, DMA, professor of organ, harpsichord, and music history, from Walla Walla College, in College Place, Wash. Instrumentation for other pieces include a solo clarinet, a flute duo, tambourine and congas. Dr. Scott will also play the pipe organ for the congregational hymn singing. Two pieces specially commissioned for this program will have their world premier. The hymn "Into My Heart" and "O Come to My Heart, Lord Jesus," were arranged by Robert Scholz, DMA, professor emeritus of music at St. Olaf College. Dr. Armstrong holds a master of music degree from the University of Illinois and a doctor of musical arts degree from Michigan State University. He holds membership in the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America and the International Federation for Choral Music, among other professional societies. The St. Olaf Choir, which Dr. Armstrong conducts, is renowned as the pioneer a cappella choir and for setting the standard for excellence in the choral art for some 75 years. Armstrong has taken the St. Olaf Choir on tour throughout the United States and the world. He and St. Olaf choir have appeared on radio programs and recorded 11 CDs. Armstrong has guest conducted such noted ensembles as the Utah Symphony and Symphony Chorus, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. He has collaborated in concert with Bobby McFerrin and Garrison Keillor, of NPR's A Prairie Home Companion. He is much in demand as a guest conductor and lecturer throughout the world. Formed in 1994, the Oregon Adventist Men's Chorus, under the direction of Lou Wildman, performs anthems, spirituals, selections from the master composers and traditional hymns. For more information about the concerts of the Oregon Adventist Men's Chorus, call (503) 841-8492 or visit www.oamc.org. Media contact: # # # | |||
