The Department of Music at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith will present the UAFS Chorale and Women’s Chorus in a free concert Feb. 27 at Grand Avenue Baptist Church, 3900 Grand Ave.

 

The annual concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m., is titled ECCO, or Eclectic Choral Concert Opportunity, and features a wide array of choral music presented by the two choirs. The Italian word “ecco” can mean “here” as well as “there,” and this concert features music of all kinds.

 

According to Dr. Rager H. Moore II of Prairie Grove, UAFS director of choral activities, the concert includes new and traditional music from Ireland and the Americas that “will bring warmth to the audience in the middle of winter.”

 

This year’s slate of composers is an eclectic group that includes Andrew Carter, Rene Clausen, Cathy DeRousse, Josh Floyd, Fred Hellerman, Moses Hogan, Joachim Kelecom, Gail T. Kubik, David Mooney, James Mulholland, Sheena Phillips, Jeremy Rawson, Ramiro Real, Linda Spevacek and Alec Wilder.

 

Moore added that both the audience and the choir members enjoy the musical sounds that result from the church’s acoustically flattering hall.

 

“We choose the music specifically for this venue,” he said, “both for the acoustics at Grand Avenue Baptist and because it gives our students the opportunity to work with instruments that are available at the church.”

 

Students performing in the concert include:

 

Alma: Sonya Daniel, Chorale and Women’s Chorus; and Jordan Duff, Micheal Phan and Elyse Stogner, Chorale.

 

Barling: Cody Goad, Chorale.

 

Beebe: Erin Decker, Women’s Chorus.

 

Booneville: Kyle Jones and Hannah Yeager, Chorale.

 

Clarksville: Sarah Gray, Women’s Chorus.

 

Fort Smith: Elizabeth Carter, Josh Floyd, Charles French, Collin Harper, Terri Leins, Joe Reed, Taylor Schmidt, Josh Scroggins, Chelsey Smith, Ben Truong and Ethan Womack, Chorale; Alisha Garland, Abby Hobbs, Michelle Leonard and Rachel Townsend, Chorale and Women’s Chorus; and Tra Le, Emily McClure, Stormi Metheny, Janet Renwick and Crystal Turpin, Women’s Chorus.

 

Gentry: Kaylin Cripps, Alan Herrera and John Lopez, Chorale.

 

Greenwood: Walter Harrison and Hannah Jones, Chorale; and Jesse Watson, Chorale and Women’s Chorus.

 

Hot Springs: Corby Smith, Chorale.

 

Houston, Texas: Christi Melrose, Women’s Chorus.

 

Huntsville: Laura Ramirez, Women’s Chorus.

 

Jacksonville: Andrew Jeffers, Chorale.

 

Jenks, Okla.: Sarah Rickman, Women’s Chorus.

 

Jonesboro: McKendreah Brodie, Chorale.

 

Mansfield: Kayla Bridges, Women’s Chorus.

 

Mena: Amber Lane, Chorale.

 

Omaha: Deborah Ellis, Chorale and Women’s Chorus.

 

Roland, Okla.: Courtney Hicks, Chorale.

 

Rudy: Justin Dowdy, Chorale.

 

Sallisaw, Okla.: Matthew Eggert, Chorale.

 

Shreveport, La.: Nicole Bonk, Women’s Chorus.

 

Stigler, Okla.: Ethan Shaw, Chorale.

 

Van Buren: Destiny Adams, Sarah Morton, Women’s Chorus; Rachel Nye and Jessica Utz, Chorale and Women’s Chorus; and Kalyn Tounzen, Chorale.

 

Wilburton, Okla.: Spencer Bray, Chorale.

 

For more information, contact Moore at 479-788-7543 or rager.moore@uafs.edu.