The Denison Collegium Musicum will present its spring concert titled, "Madrigals: Of Animals and Spring" at 8 p.m., Thursday (April 17) in Swasey Chapel. Affiliated Studio Instructor Christine Shumway Mortine will direct the program. Admission is free and open to the public.

Collegium Musicum is a specially selected group of 13 singers who specialize in early music and in particular, a capella music. Members of the choir include junior Emily Baker from Union, Ky.; sophomore Brian Brunacini from Hillsboro; junior Dan Burleson from Watertown, Wis.; freshman Michael Goldsberry from St. Louisville; junior Bob Hall from Virgie, Ky.; sophomore Jennifer Hart from Calvert City, Ky.; freshman Rebecca Highbargain from Columbus; freshman Medha Jaisankar from Prague, Czech Republic; sophomore Anusha Jogi from Harare, Zimbabwe; sophomore Elaine Martin from Mequon, Wis.; senior Steve Norris from Parma; senior Gretchen Phillips from Pataskala; and senior Diane Skinner from Harare, Zimbabwe.

The program of varied madrigals, reaching as far back as the 12th century and up to the late 16th century, also will be a showcase of individual solos. Phillips will solo during "Of All the Birds That I Do Know" by British composer John Bartlet. Burleson and Brunacini will step out of the all men presentation of "O Mistress Mine" to each sing a rousing solo verse. Skinner and Jogi will join forces to weave a duet by Claude Le Juene in his "Revoici Venir du Printemps." In the first set of the evening, a quartet composed of Martin, Hart, Brunacini and Burleson will sing during "Nun Fanget an Ein Guts Liedlein."

The program will have representation of Spanish, German, French, old English and English poetry put to music, thus defining the madrigal style. Other songs featured will be Orlando Gibbons "The Silver Swan," Campion's "Never Weather-beaten Sail," Josquin des Pres' French legato "Mille Regret," Passereau's "Il est Bel et Bon," "Il Grillo," and "Contrapunto Bestiale." Translations will also be included.

In addition to conducting Collegium Musicum, Mortine teaches private voice lessons at Denison. She is founder and music director of the professional chamber orchestra, The Columbus Bach Ensemble, and maintains a private voice studio in the Columbus area. She also served as assistant director for Opera Columbus' 2002 production of Mozart'sThe Magic Fluteand last season's Light Opera repertoireThe Man of La ManchaandThe Pirates of Penzance. Mortine earned bachelor's and master's degrees in music and voice performance from Ohio State University.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

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