USU Chamber Singers' CD Considered for Grammy Award

Utah State University’s Chamber Singers, a choral ensemble in the Department of Music, is being considered for a Grammy Award for its new CD, “Show Me Thy Ways: Choral Music of Daniel E. Gawthrop.”

“I’m most thrilled that this nomination is bringing positive recognition to our students and the great program we have at Utah State,” said Cory Evans, director of choral activities for the Caine College of the Arts’ department of music. “Our finest choir of undergraduate singers performed with world-class artistry.”

The USU Chamber Singers’ recording has been submitted and accepted for the list of Grammy nominations by the National Academy of Recording Artists and Sciences in three categories, including Best Classical Album, Best Choral Performance and Best Engineered Album, Classical.

“I don’t believe I have ever been better served as a composer in either live performances or recordings,” Gawthrop said of the Chamber Singers. “The choral sound is absolutely first rate, lush and opulent. The choir gives the impression they are doing all of this without breaking a sweat.”

Caine College of the Arts Dean Craig Jessop, former conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, served as executive producer of the project.

“The process of working with our music students as they took choral concepts to a whole new level was astounding,” Jessop said. “I am honored to have played a role in this uplifting, peaceful collaboration.”

According to Evans, the CD creation process was a collaborative effort between composer, conductor, professionals and student musicians.

In addition to the singers, the disc features the talents of USU students, including Jeff Detton, organ; Jonathan Rose, organ; Nicole Watts, violin; Andrea Ashdown, violin; Bethany Pereboom, viola; DJ Hesterman, cello; and Patrick Clark, double bass. Bonnie Schroeder, oboe, from the Orchestra at Temple Square, is also featured on the CD.

“I was thrilled to receive the news that our disc was under consideration for a Grammy nomination,” Evans said. “Being put on the Grammy Nomination Entry List is exciting because it means our recording is placed alongside recordings from the best choral ensembles around.”

According to Evans, the CD highlights the lush sounds of the ensemble and was recorded between Feb. 25 and March 1, 2010, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Hyde Park, Utah.

“We have worked so hard on this disc for the past seven months, overcoming hurdles in almost every aspect of production,” said Evans.

The disc was recorded by Grammy award-winning recording engineer Bruce Leek, who recently recorded for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The CD is a follow-up to the 1995 recording “Sing Me to Heaven” featuring the USU Chamber Singers.

“Show Me Thy Ways: Choral Music of Daniel E. Gawthrop” can be purchased by calling the USU Chamber Singers choral office, 435-797-3035. The CD is also available at amazon.com, cdbaby.com, emusic.com and on iTunes.

Writer: Courtney Lewis, 435-797-9203, courtney.lewis@usu.edu

Contact: Cory Evans, 435-797-3035, cory.evans@usu.edu