Pictured from left to right: Waterford Union High School Director Derek Machan; Composer Christopher Tin; cellist Lindsay Fischer, '14; violinist Laura Lawonn, '12; faculty violinist Darlene Rivest; and violinist Daena Voelz, '11.

Carthage students and faculty participate in world premiere of "Calling All Dawns" at Waterford Union High School

Three Carthage student musicians and faculty violinist Darlene Rivest performed the world premiere of Christopher Tin's twice-Grammy nominated Calling All Dawns at Waterford High School Jan. 9-10.

The performance, directed by Waterford Union High School choral director Derek Machan, featured the following Carthage students: violinist Laura Lawonn, '12, of Brookfield, Wis.; violinist Daena Voelz, '11, of Kenosha; and cellist Lindsay Fischer, '14, of Sheboygan, Wis.

This was a 21-month project taken on by Mr. Machan, who assembled the 75-piece orchestra and 200-voice choir, and arranged for a visit to the premiere by composer.

Tin, 34, is a Los Angeles-based composer writing music for films (X2: X-Men United and Lilo and Stitch 2), video games (Civilization IV and Pirates of the Caribbean online), television, advertising and the recording industry. He is currently writing music for Hoodwinked Too: Good vs. Evil, which is due to come out in late February or early March.

"Calling All Dawns is a song-cycle in three movements: day, night and dawn," says Tin. "Each movement corresponds to a different phase of life — life, death and rebirth. In short, it's five songs about life, three songs about death, and four songs about rebirth. There are songs of joy, mystery and hardship, reflecting the complexity of our mortal selves. There are songs of the deepest, darkest sorrow to accompany us through death. And finally, there are songs of triumph and exultation that bring us roaring back to life, beginning the cycle anew."

Calling All Dawns includes a song in Swahili in an African gospel style, plus others in Hebrew and Farsi. Ethnic instruments included Japanese Taiko drums, Indian Tabla, Indonesian Angklung, and the Cajon (box drum), among many others. The piece was scheduled for two performances at Waterford Union High School, but due to a large demand for tickets, a third performances was added, which also sold out the 500-seat theater.