Southern Symphonic Chorus presents ‘Carmina Burana’

Practice+session+for+Carmina+Burana

Practice session for Carmina Burana

The Southern Symphonic Chorus will present Carl Orff’s cantata Carmina Burana at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 13, at the Central Christian Center, 410 S. Virginia Ave., in Joplin. Director of Choral Studies David L. Sharlow is the performance’s director. He said the work, especially the first part, “O Fortuna,” will be easily recognizable from its presence in movies, trailers and TV shows.

The Southern Symphonic Chorus consists of 63 Southern chorale students and 40 community volunteers. The chorus will be joined by professional soloists from the Kansas City-area – Sarah Tannehill Anderson, soprano; David Adams, tenor; and baritone Robert McNichols.

The choir will also be accompanied by an orchestra of more than 40 instruments, consisting of about 20 Southern students or faculty and 20 community professionals.

This is the third year the Southern Symphonic Chorus has enriched the community by performing classical works. The chorus’ first performance, George Frideric Handel’s Messiah, was also held at the Central Christian Center.

“We feel fortunate and gracious to be back in that great facility,” Sharlow said.

The show will begin with a performance by Missouri Southern Chamber Singers, a select group of student vocalists, and will continue with the hour-long production of Carmina Burana.

The students involved in the chorus have been practicing since the beginning of this semester, while the other community members began practice mid-February. Beginning the week before the performance, the groups will join together for nightly practices.

Admission to the program is free.