College Welcomes Former Choir Director, Gregory Ristow, Back Home For Special Reunion Concert on Jan. 16
Indiana's DePauw University Chamber Singers, led by former LSC-Montgomery choir director Gregory Ristow (center), will perform a free concert in the LSC-Montgomery Music Hall on Thursday, January 16, at 7:30 p.m. |
On Thursday, January 16, at 7:30 p.m., the DePauw Chamber Singers, the top national and international touring choir of Indiana’s DePauw University School of Music, will perform a free concert of Spanish and American music at Lone Star College-Montgomery’s Music Hall. The performance is part of the choir’s tour of Texas and Mexico.
But their visit to Lone Star College-Montgomery is especially meaningful for the group’s conductor, Gregory Ristow. Until 2009, Ristow taught at LSC-Montgomery, where he helped build the music department and choral program.
“During my final year at the college, we were designing the new music building and recital hall," said Ristow. "We worked hard to get the acoustics right, but you never know quite how it will turn out. I’ve been back to hear concerts, and it’s perfect. I am so excited to have the chance to perform in my old home in this wonderful hall."
The Chamber Singers will perform music in a wide variety of styles, from Louis Armstrong’s famous “What a Wonderful World,” to fiery Spanish choral music from the Renaissance, to a gorgeous set of African-American spirituals.
The group will also perform a very special song, written by children being treated for cancer at the Texas Children’s Hospital, called “A Celebration of Hope.” Children at the hospital, working together with professional song writers, created the song. During their tour, the DePauw Chamber Singers will also record this song and perform it at the hospital as part of the Purple Songs Can Fly project (www.purplesongscanfly.org).
“It’s so clichéd to say ‘this concert has something for everyone,’ but it’s true,” Ristow said. “Everything on the program packs an enormous musical and emotional impact, and the choir and I are delighted to be sharing it with audiences in Texas and Mexico.”
The DePauw Chamber Singers have performed at Carnegie Hall (NY), the Lincoln Center (NY), the Kennedy Center (DC), and the White House as well as at conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and Indiana Music Educators Association. Internationally, they have performed in China, Norway and England, with the Philharmonia Orchestra, and under world famous conductors, including Aaron Copland and Sir David Wilcocks.
For more information about the LSC-Montgomery music program, visit www.LoneStar.edu/Montgomery-Music-Department or contact Fong Chau, program coordinator for theatre/fine arts at LSC-Montgomery, at (936) 273.7021 or Fong.T.Chau@LoneStar.edu.
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.