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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TODAY’S DATE Contact: YOUR CONTACT PERSON’S NAME, CONTACT PHONE, AND EMAIL ADDRESS

SPONSORING ORGANIZATION HERE presents the Ohio Northern University National Tour Choir in concert

CITY OR TOWN — The SPONSORING ORGNIZATION will present a concert featuring the Ohio Northern University National Tour Choir in NAME OF BUILDING AND ROOM on DAY OF WEEK, MONTH AND DATE, at HOUR p.m. The event is free and open to the public. A freewill love offering for the touring group will be taken.

The Ohio Northern National Tour Choir is on a 38-day concert tour to 26 states during May and June 2013. The choir consists of members of the ONU University Singers, the top choral ensemble at ONU, which tours annually. Most recently, in March 2012, the choir took its 11th international tour and presented concerts throughout the North Island of New Zealand. The choir is under the direction of Dr. Ben Ayling.

The concert will be in three sections and will open with a sacred segment beginning with Michael McGlynn’s processional “Media Vita” as sung by his Celtic group, Anuna. The choir will then present various styles of sacred literature, including “Ave Maria” by Franz Biebl, a setting of “Psalm 23” with French horn, “Star in the East” arranged by Brad Holmes, Dawson’s “Balm in Gilead,” and several spirituals.

The second segment will include music of Africa, Norway, Ireland, Japan and Brazil. The choir will sing a tribute to the great humanitarian, Nelson Mandela, followed by Gunnar Eriksson’s beautiful lullaby “Gjendines Bådnlåt.” Next, “She Moved through the Fair” arranged by Tim Takach will be presented followed by a beautiful setting of the Japanese Haiku text “Kono michi Ya, Iku Nashi Ni” set by composer and ONU graduate Nathan Arant. “Tres Cantos,” a setting of three freely based melodies sung by the Kurao tribe (native Indians living in the forests of northern Brazil) will be sung, and the section will end with the “Sakkijarven Polka” arranged by Jonathan Rathbone. Also featured will be choir accompanist and piano soloist Christopher Gray.

The final segment of the concert will focus on American and contemporary offerings with music of George Gershwin, Stephen Foster and Eric Whitacre. The section will begin with “Is there Anybody Here from Out of Town,” a double chorus piece in the barbershop style, followed by a Mark Hayes arrangement of “Camptown Races.” Also included in the concert will be “Cloudburst” by Whitacre and a special arrangement of “Old Man River” and “Summertime” for bass soloist, clarinet and choir. The concert will conclude with “This Land is Your Land,” “Cindy” and a choral “Benediction.”

Ohio Northern University’s quality, student-centered education distinctively combines nationally ranked sciences, arts and professional programs for more than 3,600 students in its five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, Pharmacy and Law.

Visit the ONU National Tour Choir website at: http://www.onu.edu/choir_tour_2013