Four Wake Forest University students will perform as a part of the Winston-Salem Symphony “Mixtape” production set to launch on February 14, 2021. Brianna Coppolino, soprano; Julianne Zhu, alto; Greyson Lehman, tenor; and Kgosi Hughes, bass, are all members of the Wake Forest University Chamber Choir in the Music Department. The students will join 12 other singers from the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus to perform selections from Johannes Brahms’ Liebeslieder Walzer, Op. 52.
Each of the students were invited to join the Symphony Chorus by its director, Christopher Gilliam, who also serves as Director of Choral Activities at Wake Forest. Gilliam asked the students to learn the Brahms waltzes on their own during the holiday break. Since the Liebeslieder Walzer have a German text, it’s important that the students have a thorough understanding of German diction and know how to negotiate smoothly the rhythmic and occasionally slippery consonant and vowel combinations they sing. The vocal lines are athletic as well, so the vocalization requires a flexible and healthy technique.
“I encourage students in the Wake Forest University Choirs to take private voice lessons if they can so that they know how to physically handle challenging works like the Liebeslieder,” Gilliam said. “It’s such beautiful music, and so fun to sing, but music like that necessitates an exceptional command of one’s own voice to negotiate all the intervallic leaps and technical requirements. Our quartet of singers have a great command of this particular repertoire because of the work they do in lessons with our fantastic vocal faculty. When it comes to this sort of technically demanding music, their vocal study really shines.”
Artistic discipline is central to the Wake Forest pro humanitate mission. Wake students like Brianna, Julianne, Greyson, and Kgsoi value the study of music and the arts as a bridge to the past and a pathway to the future. The skills vital for success in today’s competitive and comprehensive market run parallel to the proficiencies required of the successful artist, and the rigor and flexibility music study engenders sets the motivated and focused student on the right path towards a rewarding and bright future—no matter what their ultimate career path.
The concert “Mixtape” is part of the Symphony’s 2020/2021 season reimagined and will be premiered on Sunday, February 14. To learn how you can view this Valentine’s day Symphony concert featuring “a romantic blend of Valentine’s favorites from Mozart to Puccini and beyond, that are perfect for setting the mood,” visit the Symphony’s website and purchase your “stage pass” HERE.