The American Festival Chorus opens its 2009-2010 season with “An Evening of John Rutter Choral Music” Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kent Concert Hall of the Chase Fine Arts Center on the campus of Utah State University.

 

The concert is presented by the Caine School of the Arts at USU.

 

Seating is reserved, and tickets are $12, $16 and $18. Tickets are available in person at the Caine School of the Arts Box Office in the Chase Fine Arts Center 138-B; and at the Eccles Theatre Ticket Office, 43 S. Main St.; by calling the Caine School of the Arts Box Office at 435-797-8022 or online.

 

“John Rutter is one of the most famous living composers in the world today and certainly one of the most popular,” said Music Director Craig Jessop.

 

The chorus and orchestra will perform an entire concert of Rutter’s works.

 

“He has a way of penetrating the soul with the sheer beauty of his melodic power,” Jessop said.

 

The first half of the concert will highlight Rutter’s shorter works, including numbers such as All Things Bright and Beautiful, Distant Land and The Lord Bless You and Keep You. The second half will feature Rutter’s Mass for the Children, with guest performers, the Cache Children’s Choir.

 

Jessop called the mass a beautiful and moving piece. The work was written after the untimely death of Rutter’s youngest son.

 

Rutter’s career has spanned more than four decades and his compositions are anchored in the Classic and Romantic periods of music.

 

“The gift of melody is one of his hallmarks,” Jessop said.

 

The American Festival Chorus is made up of 300 singers who live within a 50-mile radius of Logan. The group is commencing its second year.

 

“I couldn’t be more delighted with the choir for their commitment and their dedication to excellence,” Jessop said. “We’re going to continue to expand our repertoire and build a truly first-class, professional-caliber chorus and orchestra at the Top of Utah.”

 

The chorus is a community music program associated with the Department of Music and the Caine School of the Arts at Utah State University.