Gershwin program is next Tuesday Noon Recital Series theme

JOHNSTOWN ― Gershwin choral works will open the Tuesday Noon Recital Series April 9 at First Lutheran Church, 415 Vine St.

Vox Nova, the Mount Aloysius College chorale, will sing such popular tunes as Someone to Watch Over Me and Fascinating Rhythm. Nancy Way is the director. Mount Aloysius does not offer a major in music, but it gives scholarships to students who audition successfully to be in the chorale.

“Vox Nova is uniquely designed for the non-music major,” said Way, who organized the “new voice” chorale more than 25 years ago.

It performs in a four-concert series at the college and in other college events plus, on invitation, off-campus. The singers are prepared in a variety of styles ranging from the 1600s to current day, with genres including sacred, Broadway, folk and classical.

“We enjoy doing the noon recital series because of the wonderful hospitality we are shown,” Way said. “I think it is important for the students to interact with audience members at the lunch to understand that the work they do is impactful and validating.”

There is no charge for the recitals or the lunches that follow because they are completely underwritten by contributions.Other programs in the upcoming series are:

April 16. Jazz musicians from four high schools will perform together for the first time, after a rehearsal preceding the program. Directors from Forest Hills, Greater Johnstown, Richland and Westmont Hilltop alternate as conductors of the ensemble.

April 23. Matthew Sprinkle, organist at Moxham Lutheran Church, will play classics and hymn improvisations. A Johnstown native, he has performed and also directed choirs across the United States. He was invited to present a choral concert at the Vatican. Sprinkle studied organ improvisation at the Juilliard School.

April 30. Darlene Seals and Devon Haselrig return with their popular program of gospel, patriotic, rhythm and blues, soft rock and jazz. Seals and Haselrig, who are in music ministry at several churches, have performed many times throughout the region. Haselrig is a member of the recital task force.