April 27, 2006 — The University of Utah singers and the University of Utah Harp Ensemble will perform in this weekend’s opening concert of the 2006 Madeleine Festival of the Arts and Humanities, to be held Sunday, April 30, at 8 p.m., at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 E. South Temple. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 7:15 p.m.

Drew W. Browning, Madeleine Festival co-director, notes that the concert will feature the Utah premiere of Valeri Kikta”s oratorio for multiple harps and chorus, “La Luce delle Tacite Stelle” or “Light of the Silent Stars.” The piece will feature the University of Utah Singers, conducted by Brady Allred, and the University of Utah Harp Ensemble, directed by ShruDeLi Ownbey. The program will also feature several works from Latin America.

“We are particularly excited about this opening event featuring both the U of U Singers and the U of U harp ensemble,” says Drew Browning, co-director of the Madeleine Festival of the Arts and Humanities. “Having such a high caliber event with multiple harps and chorus in the magnificent space of The Cathedral of the Madeleine should prove to be quite spectacular.”

Last summer, the University of Utah Singers, a mixed choir made up of 46 U students, received six awards-including the grand prize-from the Florilege Vocal de Tour International Choir Competition, held in Tours, France.