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E-mail This StoryWhen visiting Manhattan, as the old saying goes, ask any local how you get to Carnegie Hall, and the answer remains the same: practice, practice, practice. That holds true for Hunter Sitz, a 2008 Celina High School graduate who will grace the famed stage in June.
Sitz auditioned and made the cut to join the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Chorale, the elite choral ensemble of the university, and perform the world premiere of choral composer David N. Child’s, “Requiem.” The chorale will join forces with the Vanderbilt University chorale and possibly two additional ensembles of national note.
After the Southeastern Chorale performed in Celina last year, he auditioned enjoyed the performance so much he decided to audition for a scholarship. Not only did he receive a major scholarship, but he also earned a place in the elite Chorale.
“I just can’t wait to go with all my friends,” the vocal music freshman said of the trip and performance. “This is truly an once-in-a-lifetime experience and we all look forward to the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall and make some really good music together.”
“It is a great honor for this University and the Chorale to be a part of the Carnegie Hall experience,” Southeastern University president Michael Turner said.
Carnegie Hall is known for great musical performances of symphonies, choral groups, wind ensembles and jazz. It has also captured some of the world’s best performances in theater and dance, as well.
This performance will be the latest in a series of milestones in the chorale’s history of this group. Last year, the chorale became just the third choir in the nation to host Grammy nominated conductor, Craig Hella Johnston, in residency.
In 2007, the Southeastern Chorale was the only Oklahoma choir invited to perform as part of the National Endowment of the Arts Choral Symposium in Austin. While joined by choirs of the University of Texas, Texas Tech University and Texas State University, the Southeastern group was the only one asked to join Grammy nominated and professional singing group Conspirare in the final concert.
This group was also the invited guest for the Oklahoma Music Educators Association annual convention. Following their afternoon performance, they were asked to perform on the encore concert the following evening. This was the first time in the history of the association, that a group had been invited to perform again in the final concert.
The group will be gearing up for not only the Carnegie Hall performance, but also preparing for many fundraisers from now through the spring semester. Last weekend, the Chorale had a standing-room only performance in Durant, Okla., and used the opportunity to sing several different styles for local patrons at a silent auction and dinner.
The Southeastern Oklahoma State University Chorale includes 28 members, and more than 75 percent of whom are Texas natives.
