UVa-Wise 50th Anniversary Alumni Choir Reunion Concert Sunday, Oct. 3

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise Chamber Choir, under the direction of D. Michael
Donathan, professor emeritus of music, will present a concert on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 3 p.m. at the Wise Baptist Church. The event is free and open to the public.

The concert, presented as a part of the College’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, will also include the College Choir under the direction of Michael D. Cox, instructor in music. As the concluding part of the concert, both choirs will perform together with invited alumni and community members who have participated in College choirs during the last 50 years.

In keeping with the historical significance of the concert, Dogwood and Rhododendron, the school song composed in the early 1960s by professors Theodore W. Gibson and Georgie Gurney, will be performed by the men of The Chamber Choir. In addition, Remembrance, composed by the American composer Denes Agay, a summer resident of Norton for many years, will be performed by The Chamber Choir.

Remembrance was composed at the request of the College in 1983 and first performed by
the Women's Choir under the direction of Donathan at the dedication of the Colgate W. Darden, Jr. Memorial Garden at Capitol Square in Richmond. The combined choirs will conclude the concert
with The Old Irish Blessing also performed at the Richmond ceremony and first performed by the choir of the Gladeville Presbyterian Church in Wise in 1970.

Alumni and community individuals who sang in choirs at the College are invited to participate in the concert. Rehearsals for the combined choirs will take place at 5:00 P.M. on Saturday, Oct. 2
and Sunday, Oct. 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the Wise Baptist Church.

For additional information contact the UVa-Wise Alumni Association at 276/328-0128 or Michael. Donathan at 276/328-0271.