Sir David Willcocks comes to Rowan for choir concert

As part of an historic visit by one of the world’s most renowned choral conductors, Rowan University’s Department of Music presents An English Holiday: An Evening with Sir David Willcocks on Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 8 pm in Pfleeger Concert Hall.

The concert is a collaboration between Sir David, the Rowan University Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, and the Rowan University Orchestra, under the direction of Salvatore Scarpa. Sir David will be on campus for four days of rehearsals and events leading up to the Saturday evening concert. With faculty soloists Bonita Granite, Marian Stieber and Jon Garrison, the Choir and the Orchestra perform John Rutter’s “Magnificat” and “What Sweeter Music,” Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “O Clap Your Hands,” Britten’s arrangement of the British National Anthem and Willcocks’ own arrangements of “Lord of the Dance” and a selection of beloved holiday carols.

Sir David is Music Director Emeritus of King’s College Choir at Cambridge. During a career spanning 60 years, he has served as Director of Music at King’s College at Cambridge and director of London’s Royal College of Music. He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971 and was knighted in 1977 in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Honours List.

With the King’s College Choir, he performed throughout Europe, Canada and Africa. At Cambridge he also served as University Organist, University Lecturer and Conductor of the Cambridge University Musical Society. From 1960 to 1998 he served as Musical Director of The Bach Choir in London. Sir David He has received honorary degrees in England from the Universities of Bradford, Bristol, Exeter, Leicester and Sussex, and from the Royal College of Music in London; in the USA from Luther College (Iowa), St. Olaf College (Minnesota) and Westminster Choir College (New Jersey); and in Canada from the Universities of Trinity, Toronto and Victoria B.C.

Pfleeger Concert Hall is located in Wilson Hall on the campus of Rowan University, Mullica Hill Road in Glassboro, NJ. Tickets for the concert are $10, general admission, in advance ($15 at the door); and $8 for seniors in advance ($12 at the door). Group rates are also available. For tickets, call the box office at 856-256-4545. For directions and additional information, visit www.rowan.edu/fpa.