Let the River Run
Join the Dubuque Chorale as it celebrates the world’s great rivers, and especially our iconic American river, the Mississippi.
Friday • April 25 • 9:30 & 10:40 AM (for 8th-graders)
Friday • May 2 • 7:30 PM (main performance)
Grand River Center, Dubuque
Program
The first half of the concert, entitled “The River Inspires,” includes musical numbers that focus on literary, spiritual, and actual rivers. Composers include Gwyneth Walker with pieces featuring poetry by Langston Hughes, Billy Joel, Rollo Dilworth, and various sprituals. The music is accompanied by a multimedia presentation with poetry readings by master of ceremonies Paul Hemmer and local author and professor Katherine Fischer, and works by winners of the 8th-grade poetry and art contests.
The second half, “The Mighty Mississippi,” showcases a medley by Roger Miller inspired by Mark Twain, a steamboat song by Paul Hemmer, and numbers by Spencer Williams, Hoagy Carmichael, Robert Kapilow, Jerry Enzler, and Randy Newman. The concert concludes with a medley of tunes from the musical “Showboat.”
Concert Previews
The week before the main concert, the Chorale Cadenza will perform an abbreviated version of the concert during the school day for local 8th-graders.
Art and Poetry Contests
To help celebrate the beauty and heritage of the river, the Chorale, the Dubuque Museum of Art, and the National Mississippi River Museum invite 8th-graders from Dubuque’s local schools to participate in a river-themed art contest and poetry contest. Entries will be judged by a panel of experts. Winning participants will receive cash prises, and have their works presented during the concert performances! See the following for further details.
Partners
The Dubuque Chorale is pleased to partner with the Dubuque Museum of Art, the National River Museum, the Loras College Center for Dubuque History, Paul Hemmer, author Katherine Fischer, and Dubuque’s public and parochial middle schools.