Spring sings

The University Campus Choir has been practicing in Schoenberg
hall for years; however, it is not technically a campus group.

The group, which consists of a nearly 40 singers from the UCLA
community, is gearing up for its 25th anniversary concert on June
25 at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.

The group consists not only of students but also participants
who work in an administrative capacity on campus, as well as local
choral music enthusiasts.

“Singers are always welcome at the UCC,” said Edwin
Gauld, a longtime choir singer. “The main requirements are a
love of choral music and commitment to the weekly
practices.”

Gauld, who lives within earshot of the sorority houses on
Hilgard, has been performing with the choir for the past six years.
As a member of the choir’s board of directors, one of his
major goals to continue to reach out to group’s adopted
home.

“(We’d like to) get more people from the UCLA
community to sing with us,” Gauld said.

The group holds practice once a week on Mondays at 7:15 p.m. and
is always excited to have new members show up.

“They’ve been practicing for a long time at
Schoenberg,” said Gauld, who emphasized the tradition behind
the group.

The choir’s 25th anniversary concert also coincides with
250th anniversary of Mozart’s death, which they plan to honor
by performing his piece, “Solemn Vespers of the
Confessor.”

“We’d also like perform formidable works of music
reflecting the makeup of the choir,” Gauld said.

Selections from a number of other composers, including Verdi and
Schubert, are also planned for the concert, which is being produced
under the artistic direction of Alexander Ruggieri and guest
conductors Irene Kim and Diane Rose, who were former members of the
choir.

“This special 25th anniversary concert provides us with
the opportunity to bring together current and past choir members,
former conductors, and guest singers,” Gauld said.

The choir was established in August 1981 under the direction of
Don Weiss, who was succeeded by Stephanie Henry, Irene Kim,
Jennifer Kelly, and now Ruggieri. The songs for the anniversary
show were selected not only by him, but also by former conductors
Kim and Rose.

Since its inception 25 years ago, the choir has performed in a
variety of venues which include everything from Carnegie Hall to VA
hospitals, museums, churches and schools. The choir has brought
music into the lives of senior citizen groups and has sung
Christmas carols throughout Westwood.

One of their more exotic shows took place in the Czech Republic
to honor the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak. The trip took place in
the 1990s soon after the Czechs’ Velvet Revolution when they
were freed from the Soviet Union and when national poets and
musicians were most important. Dvorak’s most famous piece,
New World Symphony, is a “warhorse” according to
Gauld.

“A warhorse is a piece repeated quite frequently because
it’s so popular, kind of reminiscent of a general getting on
his horse,” he said.

Although the upcoming concert is a lot closer to home, the choir
is excited to be here after all this time.

“We’ve been practicing since January,” Gauld
said. “Preparing for this concert required much time and
energy. This concert provides a rare privilege to UCC members to
celebrate 25 years of singing together.”