USU Symphony Orchestra Ends School Year With University Choir Collaboration for Beethoven Performance

LOGAN, Utah — The final USU Symphony Orchestra concert of the year will feature Beethoven’s rarely performed “Choral Fantasy” featuring university choirs and soloists. This event will take place 7:30 p.m. April 22 in the Chase Fine Arts Center’s Daines Concert Hall.

The USU Symphony Orchestra conductor, Daniel Alfred Wachs, wanted this concert to be something special.

“For my final concert, I wanted to include as many of our wonderful students across disciplines as possible, which is why I reached out to our choir program,” Wachs said.

According to Wachs, the featured work is a “mini” Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with its famous Ode to Joy. The various soloists include six USU vocalists and a pianist.

“This work includes a rather big solo piano part which Beethoven himself improvised,” Wach said. “As to who the piano soloist will be on our concert — you’ll just have to come and find out.”

The USU Symphony Orchestra presents five concerts a season and rehearsals for this program began shortly before spring break. The USU Symphony Orchestra and university choirs do not usually collaborate, making this the biggest concert of the year.

“Such interdisciplinary opportunities bring our students and faculty closer together and enable us to program larger, exciting works for choir and orchestra,” Wach said. “It's been a pleasure watching the members of the USU Symphony Orchestra grow in confidence this year and I wish them continued success.”

Wachs is returning to Vienna, Austria at the conclusion of the academic year to rejoin the Alban Berg Ensemble Wien.

This event is free for USU students, $15 for adults, $10 for seniors/youth, and $8 for faculty/staff. Purchase tickets online or at the CCA box office located in the Daryl Chase Fine Arts Center. For more information, visit the USU events calendar.