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Event Series Event Series: E. Carl Freeman Concert Series

Washington & Lee University Singers and Virginia State University Concert Choir

February 15, 2025 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Time & Location: 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Washington & Lee University Singers and Virginia State University Concert Choir
Shane Lynch, Director (W&L)
Craig Robertson, Director (VSU)

Free parking across River Road and behind the church.

E. Carl Freeman Concert Series at River Road Church

University Singers

Washington & Lee University

The University Singers, the premiere choral ensemble at Washington and Lee University, continues to be recognized as one of the finest a cappella choirs in the region. Under the direction of award-winning conductor Shane M. Lynch, the University Singers tour nationally or internationally every year, performing a wide variety of literature across the globe while serving as artistic ambassadors for W&L in concert series, music festivals, competitions and conventions. The University Singers have been recognized for their excellence in performance by the American Choral Directors Association, the Virginia Music Educators Association, and in featured solo choir programs at major venues such as Carnegie Hall, the National Cathedral, and the Academy of Music. As an internationally competitive choir, the University Singers have received numerous festival/competition invitations, placements, and awards, including from the City of Derry International Choir Festival (first American choir ever to compete in Derry), the Cork International Choir Festival, and the International Choral Competition Gallus-Maribor in Slovenia.

At W&L, the University Singers are the centerpiece of the choral campus life, performing in concerts and convocations while regularly hosting residencies, performing world debuts of works by the world’s top composers, including Ēriks Ešenvalds, Melissa Dunphy, Rosephanye Powell, Stacey V. Gibbs, Santiago Veros, and René Clausen. Student members of the University Singers represent a wide cross-section of the programs offered at the school, routinely representing over 30 of the 36 undergraduate major concentrations and the law school. Membership in the University Singers is chosen by a competitive audition process each spring. Visit wlu.edu/music for more information.  Follow the ensemble via WLUSingers on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and other social media platforms.

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Shane Lynch

W&L Director

Shane Lynch, an award-winning conductor, composer, and music educator, assumed the position Director of Choral Activities at Washington and Lee University in the Fall of 2009. He conducts the University Singers, W&L’s internationally competitive touring choir, and the Glee Club. Dr. Lynch also oversees the University’s innovative and unique choral conductor mentorship/teacher preparation program, the CCMP. Dr. Lynch is a sought-after clinician and guest conductor, having worked with groups throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Quite interested in musical scholarship, some of his recent research includes trends of Neo-Impressionism in modern American choral music and eurhythmic movements in the choral rehearsal and performance setting. He is also noted for conducting large-scale productions, including operas, oratorios, and festival concerts. Dr. Lynch has led choirs to festival and competition performances across the globe, including leading the University Singers as the first American choir ever to compete in the City of Derry International Choir Festival.

Dr. Lynch has received numerous accolades as a musician and educator, including the Junior Faculty Member of the Year at Monmouth College and the Outstanding Faculty Service Award at the University of Wisconsin—Barron. An active composer interested in a wide variety of compositional styles and mediums, he has commissioned compositions ranging from octavos to choral/orchestral works. His piece Joseph and Grace premiered in Ireland for the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising and won the National Collegiate Choral Organization composition contest, and he has served as Composer-in-Residence for music festival across the globe. He will undertake the prestigious post as the Lead Instructor of the Conducting Course of the Cork International Choir Festival in the coming years.

Prior to his appointment at Washington and Lee, Dr. Lynch served as Visiting Director of Choral Activities at Monmouth College (Illinois) and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin—Barron as well as several past positions in church music and teaching high school science.

Shane Lynch graduated from Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota), with degrees in Music and Physics, received the Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of Northern Colorado, and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington.

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Concert Choir

Virginia State University

Coming Soon

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Dr. Craig L. Robertson

VSU Director

Dr. Craig L. Robertson is the Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Virginia State University (Petersburg, VA) where he conducts the VSU Concert Choir, teaches applied voice, conducting and facilitates the choral music education courses. He was the previous DCA at Mary Baldwin University (Staunton, VA) where he conducted the Baldwin Singers (MBU’s premiere ensemble) and the MBU University Choir while teaching courses in music education, conducting and choral literature. Dr. Robertson is the founder and former Artistic Director of the MBU Holiday Festival and also developed the MBU High School Choral Festival. He is the former conductor of the Staunton Choral Society and served as the musical director for local musical theater productions. He has given presentations at local and regional conferences, lectures for colleges and universities across the United States and is a sought-after guest choral clinician, conductor and adjudicator. 

As the former public school director, his ensembles consistently received ‘Superior’ ratings at choral festivals and has performed at various venues across the country. His middle school choir presented a performance at the 2011 Georgia Music Educator Association’s In-Service Conference (Savannah, GA). Additionally, Dr. Robertson has taught at multiple public schools in Florida and Georgia.

Dr. Robertson earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado (Boulder) while also serving as the Director of Music for Children and Youth Choirs at the historic Montview Presbyterian Church. He also holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Virginia State University and a Masters of Music Education from Georgia State University. He is an active member of NAfME, VMEA, ACDA and VA-ACDA (where he serves as the Southwest Regional Coordinator). He is also a proud member of the Betterment of Brothers and Sisters, Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

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Details

Date:
February 15, 2025
Time:
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Series:
E. Carl Freeman Concert Series
Event Categories:
, ,
Website:
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/river-road-church-804-288-1131-5328092385

Venue

Sanctuary
8000 River Road
Richmond, VA 23229 United States + Google Map
Phone
804-288-1131
View Venue Website