The University of Maine Singers will give a concert on Friday 27 May 2016 at 8.00pm in
St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral Armagh. Directed by Francis John Vogt, with accompanist Dr. Laura Artesani, the programme will include music by Byrd, Bizet, Sondheim Irish, and American Folk Songs. Admission to the concert will be free, with a retiring collection in aid of the Southern Area Hospice Services, in memory of Theo Saunders, former Director of Music at the Cathedral.
The University Singers is the premier touring choir of the University of Maine, whose members come from all disciplines across campus. In fact, nearly half of its members are from areas outside of music. Under the direction of Fran Vogt, the University Singers perform multiple concerts on campus throughout the academic year, tour New England for one week each spring, and perform abroad every four years.
The University of Maine is located in Orono, ME in the Northeast United States. In existence for over fifty years, the University Singers spent the majority of its career under renowned conductor Dr. Dennis K. Cox. Upon Cox’s retirement in 2014, the position of music director was assumed by Francis John Vogt who, in his still-young tenure as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Maine, has become regarded as one of New England’s finest choral conductors. The ensemble has toured all over the United States of America, completed multiple performance at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, and has toured many European countries including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Rome, and Amsterdam. This will be the group’s first time performing in Ireland and England.
Francis John Vogt is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Maine, where he conducts the University Singers and Oratorio Society, and teaches voice and choral conducting. He is the music director of the critically acclaimed chamber choir EUPHONY, comprised of University of Maine alumni, faculty and students. He has been a guest conductor, choral clinician and adjudicator in Maine, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Kansas. He has performed, recorded, and toured nationally and internationally with the Dale Warland Singers and the Gregg Smith Singers and has sung professionally with many renowned conductors.
Dr. Laura Artesani is an Associate Professor in the School of Performing Arts at the University of Maine, where she teaches music education and music history courses and supervises student teachers. She serves as piano accompanist for the University Singers, and performs frequently in faculty and student recitals. She is the faculty advisor for the UMaine Collegiate Chapter of Name, and is a member of the Executive Board of the Maine Music Educators Association. Dr. Artesani is also the organist/pianist at the Church of Universal Fellowship in Orono.
For further information, please contact: Anne Farrelly Tel: 00353 87 2394090