A group of singers from Southeast Missouri State University's Choral Union will perform in Washington, D.C. during Memorial Day weekend.

Dr. Peter Durow, director of choral activities at Southeast, said he is excited for "the amazing opportunity to perform with an internationally-known conductor in a great concert hall."

The choir will be featured in the National Memorial Day Choral Festival at 3 p.m. May 26 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Durow and 24 local singers will join more than 300 singers from across the country to perform a patriotic repertoire under the direction of Dr. Craig Jessop, former director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They also will be accompanied by the United States Air Force Symphony Orchestra.

The Choral Union will preview the songs during a Tuesday concert at the River Campus.

"This music is important," said Choral Union member Richard Giles, of Cape Girardeau. "We've heard these songs all our lives."

Durow said a highlight of the concert is a tribute to the armed services featuring the song, "Proud to Serve," a medley of the of the service themes. During the tribute, veterans will be asked to stand for recognition.

"I hope we can get a lot of veterans," Durow said. "The concert will be a great way to honor veterans and show we have a lot of talented students at Southeast."

Giles has two brothers who served in the military and an uncle who survived the Japanese attack on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.

"It's important to give back to those who have given so much to keep us free," Giles said.

Durow and Jessop organized the repertoire, which includes patriotic favorites such as "The Star-Spangled Banner," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "God Bless America" and a musical arrangement of the Pledge of Allegiance. "Gettysburg," an original piece with music written by Durow and Jessop based on a poem by Herman Melville, also will be performed.

The concert also will feature songs by noted composers, including an arrangement of "God of Our Fathers" by Mack Wilberg, director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "Summon the Heroes" and "Hymn to the Fallen" by John Williams, and "Deep River," a black spiritual song.

"I hope the audience comes away with a sense of, 'Wow,'" Durow said.

The chance to participate in the Memorial Day concert came through a touring company, Musical Celebrations, Durow said. He wanted to extend the opportunity to his students and community singers.

Choral Union member Thomas Bass, of Cape Girardeau, said he is excited to sing patriotic songs in the nation's capital.

"To do these songs in the capital is special," Bass said. "These songs work at a gut level, especially in the light of what happened in Boston."

The Choral Union and University Choir will perform a preview of the patriotic program at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the River Campus.

In addition to the Memorial Day repertoire, the performance will feature "Five Mystical Songs" by Ralph Vaughan Williams and the "Gospel Mass" by Robert Ray of the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Ray also will conduct the performance.

The "Gospel Mass" combines traditional church liturgical music with contemporary African-American music styles of blues, jazz and rhythm.

Admission for Tuesday's concert is $10 for general admission, $8 for senior citizens and $3 for Southeast students with a Southeast ID. For more information, go online to rivercampusevents.com or call 651-2265.

apicar@semissourian.com

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Washington, D.C.