Campus News

Westminster Chamber Singers Return From Pre-Olympic Festivities in Beijing

Group performs at the Choral Tribute to the 2008 Beijing Olympics

SALT LAKE CITY – After a 12-day whirlwind trip to locations throughout China, the illustrious Westminster Chamber Singers arrived home yesterday after participating in the 2008 pre-Olympic cultural festivities.

From Xi’an, to Shanghai and Beijing, the group rehearsed and performed at five different locations, including the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City and one of their sister schools at Nankai University in Beijing. The performances were part of the Choral Tribute to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

"It's like in Salt Lake City [2002 Olympics] when we had all those concerts and special art events,” said Sharayah Coleman, Westminster Chamber Singer. They're doing them in China too, only they're doing them before the actual Olympic sporting events."

The highlight of their performances culminated with Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in a Festival Salute to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“The concert was quite a success,” added Coleman. “For those of us who had never heard the impressive piece of music live, it was a wonderful experience.”

The group took part in a massed performance with a booming choir of 350 singers from North America, 50 singers from the Chinese ensemble and the TianJin Orchestra. Under the direction of nationally acclaimed conductor Eric Dale Knapp, the tribute honors choral music and salutes the forthcoming Olympic Games creating bridges between Chinese and American musicians, singers and audiences. The 2008 Summer Olympics will commence on August 8.

The Westminster Chamber Singers were organized in 1996, and have played in venues throughout the world. Their music has been in demand at a variety of venues both on and off campus. In recent years they have toured Utah, Nevada, Washington D.C., and New York City where, in 2002, they performed John Rutter's Gloria with several other college choirs in Carnegie Hall under Rutter's direction. In 2007, they toured and performed in cathedrals throughout Europe.

To read student blogs from the chamber singers about their China trip, visit http://www.westminstercollege.edu/blogs/journals.cfm?auth=48&blogid=Students.

Westminster is a nationally recognized, comprehensive liberal arts college. With a broad array of graduate and undergraduate programs, Westminster is distinguished by its unique environment for learning. Westminster prepares students for success through active and engaged learning, real world experiences and its vibrant campus community. Westminster’s unique location, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains and to the dynamic city of Salt Lake, further enriches the college experience. For more information, visit www.westminstercollege.edu.