ETSU, Milligan to host 'Men in Song,' 'Women in Song'

MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Jan. 22, 2020) – The annual “Men in Song” and “Women in Song” music festivals will run simultaneously on Saturday, Feb. 1. Hosted by the music departments of East Tennessee State University and Milligan College, the one-day festivals unite and celebrate the region’s choral singers.

Participation is open to any interested singer. After a day of rehearsals, the festivals will culminate with a free public concert at 7 p.m. in Milligan’s Mary B. Martin Auditorium in Seeger Chapel.

“Over the years, these events have brought community members and students of all ages together, ranging from nine to 82,” said Dr. Alan Stevens, associate director of choral activities in the ETSU Department of Music. “The festivals are an example of what can happen when people come together for the common good. I encourage everyone to come spend the day making music together.”

Registration, which includes music, is $15 for adults. The festivals are free for high school and college participants.

“These festivals provide high school students with a taste of college, as they visit campus and sing with current college students,” said Dr. Noah DeLong, associate professor of music at Milligan. “The opportunity to perform with such a large group and with a number of talented conductors is an amazing experience for our local high school programs.”

The Men in Song Festival Choir will be led by Stevens and DeLong. The Women in Song Festival Choir will be led by Dr. Rosephanye Powell, one of America’s premier women composers of choral music. Powell serves as the Charles W. Barkley Endowed Professor and is a professor of voice at Auburn University.

The finale concert will feature the Men in Song and Women in Song Festival Choirs, uniting over 200 voices. The concert also will feature performances by Milligan’s Concert Choir and Women’s Chorale, in addition to ETSU’s Chorale, BucsWorth and East Tennessee Belles.

On-site registration begins at 9 a.m. in the lobby of the Mary B. Martin Auditorium in Seeger Chapel. Advance registration is not required but strongly encouraged. No advance preparation is required; all music will be learned during rehearsals.

Registration, the complete schedule, participating choirs and more is available at etsu.edu/meninsong and etsu.edu/womeninsong.

For more information, contact Stevens at stevensae2@etsu.edu or 423-439-4725. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Hill
hill@etsu.edu
423-439-4317