NIC to present ‘Fall Choral Invitational' concert Oct. 5

North Idaho College will present the “Fall Choral Invitational” concert in Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5.

The concert will feature performances by the NIC Cardinal Chorale, NIC Chamber Singers, choirs from Lake City and Coeur d’Alene High Schools, and CDABrassXFive.

This concert will mark the NIC choirs’ first time back on the Schuler stage since March 2020. This concert is also the inaugural “Fall Choral Invitational,” an annual concert in which area choirs are invited to perform on the Schuler stage along with college and community singers.

“The goal of this new festival is to show singers at all levels that a lifetime of singing awaits them at any time in their lives,” said Max Mendez, Director of Choirs at NIC. “The chance to sing on the Schuler stage is a privilege that I never take for granted. Our community is devoted to the arts and this festival, which, much like our annual Gathering of the Bands and JazzNIC festival, give our talented students and community a chance visit and perform on our campus.”

“I’m most excited about the diversity of this year’s program. Many different genres and styles will be presented on the program,” Mendez said.

Two of the songs, “In the time of Silver Rain” and “Hold Fast to Dreams” feature the poetry of great American writer, Langston Hughes. “La Lluvia” by Stephen Hatfield and sung by the NIC Chamber Singers simulates both the sound of Ecuadorian pan flute and the tropical rain. An arrangement of “Blue Skies” composed by Irving Berlin and part of the Great American Songbook will be performed by the NIC Cardinal Chorale.

The program will also feature community ensemble, CDABrassxFive. Under the direction of retired NIC Band Director, Terry Jones, this brass quintet will join all the choirs on stage to perform the concert finale, a setting of “Pie Jesu” by Mark D. Templeton.

Masks are welcome at North Idaho College but they are not required. Based on the CDC’s latest recommendations, NIC encourages all individuals—regardless of vaccination status—to wear masks indoors whenever two or more people are present.

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