Press Releases

Winfield, Kan., Feb. 22, 2002 — A new choir that combines learning the music of various world cultures with exploring their customs, traditions, instruments, and dance is beginning at Southwestern College in the fall. The choir is organized and lead by Eugenia Oi Yan Yau, SC’s assistant professor of music.

Global Voices will be a performing ensemble of up to 24 members. The choir will develop a repertoire of eight to 12 musical works throughout the semester with each term focusing on a different culture. The music and culture of China will be the first topic of the choir.

“The music of a culture is so much a part of its traditions, its essence,” says Yau. “Studying them together is exactly the type of integrative course we value at Southwestern.” Yau says she hopes to have costumes from around the world for members of the group who will perform four to six times per semester in a variety of settings on and off campus.

Yau joined the SC faculty last fall from Olivet College in Olivet, Mich., where she was director of the music program and assistant professor of music. She received her D.M.A. in voice performance from the University of Texas at Austin and has singing and voice performance diplomas from Hong Kong Baptist University; Trinity College of Music, England; Royal Schools of Music, England; and the Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong.

In addition to her academic duties at Southwestern, she maintains an active performance schedule in the local community and on the international scene, and is director of music at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita.

Yau has frequently presented lecture recitals on Chinese art songs and German lieder, including a presentation at Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Interlochen public radio station. Last summer she was invited to perform recitals on American art songs at Singapore Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Bible College, and National University of Singapore. She is coached by Richard Fracker, dramatic tenor who is a frequent performer at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York.

For more information on Global Voices, call Yau at (620) 229-6303.