Music

Carthage Choir

A Brief History

Founded in 1927 as the Carthage College A Cappella Choir, the Carthage Choir is the College's premier vocal ensemble. It is believed to be the second oldest college a cappella touring choir in the United States. Choral tours have an even older tradition, dating back to 1923 with the Men's and Women's Glee Clubs. Originally a choir that performed a cappella choral music solely from the sacred repertory, the choir now performs sacred and secular music from the full expanse of choral traditions.

In its youngest years, while under the direction of founding director Elmer Hanke, the Choir was well known through its performances on national radio broadcasts and was the first touring choir to perform at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Upon Prof. Hanke's death, Prof. William P. Roth assumed direction of the choir and continued the choir's touring a cappella tradition. In the early 1960s, Prof. Roth conducted the Choir in an Easter Sunday performance at Red Rocks Park in Denver and led the Choir on its first tour to Europe.

Dr. John Windh, director of the Carthage Choir from 1966 to 1999, continued the tradition of touring domestically and began a tradition that continues today of touring Central Europe every three years during the College’s January term. Under the direction of Dr. Windh, the Carthage Choir performed in 30 states in the Midwest, the East, the South and Canada, and toured nine times to 13 European countries.

During those years, the annual Christmas Festivals grew enormously in size and popularity. In 1998, the first Carthage Alumni Choir toured Europe, with appearances in Prague, Slavkov, Breclav, Vienna, Salzburg and at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. Those European contacts led to concerts at Carthage over the years by groups from West Germany, East Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia and Russia. During Dr. Windh's tenure, the choir sang frequently at state music conventions and with the Racine and Kenosha symphonies, and performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Milwaukee's Performing Arts Center and Duke Ellington's Second Concert of Sacred Music with Ellington and his orchestra.

Prof. Gregory Berg assumed direction of the Carthage Choir upon Dr. Windh's retirement. Under Prof. Berg's direction, the choir was invited to sing at the state convention of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association in Madison, Wis., in 2001 and in the Midwest premiere of Ken Medema's The Weaver with the composer.

The Carthage Choir was joined by the Carthage Community Chorus and an Alumni Choir directed by former directors William Roth and John Windh as it celebrated its 75th anniversary with a gala concert on April 22, 2001. The concert featured the world premiere of Psalm 90, composed by and under the direction of Carthage alumnus Dr. Michael Burkhardt, internationally known organist-composer-choral director. The work was commissioned by the Music Department to commemorate the choir's anniversary.

In Spring 2001, Dr. Burkhardt was appointed college organist and director of choral activities. He assumed direction of the Carthage Choir in August 2001. The choir made several tours to the southwest and northeast United States during Dr. Burkhardt's tenure, in addition to maintaining the tradition of European tours every three years.

Weston Noble, one of the most distinguished conductors and music educators of our time, assumed the role of conductor-in-residence of the Carthage Choir in the 2007-08 academic year. Mr. Noble led the choir on its Midwest tour of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the College during the 2008 commencement ceremony. He concluded his appointment by leading the Carthage Choir and instrumental forces in a memorable performance of John Rutter's Mass of the Children. He has maintained his connection with Carthage by returning annually to work with the choral and instrumental ensembles.

The Carthage Choir's current director is Dr. Eduardo Garcia-Novelli, who joined the Carthage faculty in August 2008. In January 2009, Dr. Garcia-Novelli led the choir on a tour that included stops in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and Hungary. The group was selected to perform before the membership of WMEA (Wisconsin Music Educators Association) in October of 2009 in Madison, WI. In Spring 2010, the choir traveled to Florida, with stops in Tennessee, Georgia, and Indiana. The Carthage Choir was selected to perform for WCDA (Wisconsin Choral Directors Association) in January of 2011 in Green Bay, WI. In May of 2011 the choir had the distinct honor of presenting a solo performance at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Finally, the Carthage Choir completed a very successful two-week tour through Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland in January of 2012.

The Carthage Choir has premiered a number of compositions including works by members of the Carthage faculty: Gregory Berg, Michael Burkhardt, '79, Peter Dennee, '86, Mark Petering, Brian Schoettler ‘11, and Thomas Vignieri, '83. The choir will be premiering a newly commissioned work by Norwegian composer Ola Gjelo in December of 2012.