(Seguin) — What could possibly bring a world-renowned composer, conductor, and singer all the way from Oxfordshire, England to Seguin, Texas? The answer is Texas Lutheran University, and the 2024 Youth Choir Festival.
During the day-long festival, Bob Chilcott — who has conducted choirs all over the world and been deemed one of the world’s most widely performed composers of choral music– will work with youth treble choirs from across the area in a clinic culminating in a public performance.
This year’s visit will mark Chilcott’s third residency with TLU’s School of Music. His previous residency was highlighted by the premier of a piece he’d composed for the TLU Treble Choir and the Community Music Academy.
According to Dr. Douglas Boyer, Director of the University’s School of Music, Chilcott’s “kindness, talent, and musical training and experience make him an amazing clinician-he connects with students of all ages.”
Each time he visits, he works with the TLU and CMA Choirs. But Dr. Boyer says it doesn’t there. In keeping with the TLU School of Music tradition of reaching out to the youth of the surrounding area, the University Choir will visit Canyon High School in New Braunfels during Mr. Chilcott’s residency, so that he can work with their choirs as well.
The public will have a chance to hear the students under Chilcott’s direction. The Youth Choir Festival’s concert will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, January 20 in TLU’s Jackson Auditorium. The performance is free and open to the public.