On May 2 at 7:00 pm there will be unique opportunity to hear three Maine high school vocal groups performing on one special “a cappella” concert. The first ever “Joining Voices” concert will be held in the Olin Arts Center at Bates College, Lewiston. This is a wonderful hall with great acoustics for hearing all the music without amplification. The natural harmonies of the voices will shine through.
The audience will hear “The Mt. Blue Voices,” of Mt. Blue High School, Farmington; “Vocal ELoquence,” of Edward Little High School, Auburn; and “Diaboli Musicae” of Lewiston High School.
Richard Rau, who is the co-director of “Vocal Eloquence,” has produced this concert. Rau has a long-standing love for a cappella. Richard was a member of the Lewiston based a cappella quartet, “Top Forty” for many years, performing a cappella standards, doo-wop, pop, and jazz. He has been involved for 16 years with the annual a cappella concert, “Battle of the Blends,” which is a fund-raising event for the Maine Music Society. The “Mt. Blue Voices” have been featured at “The Battle” on three occasions.
For a number of years “The Mt. Blue Voices” have been entertaining audiences throughout the state and region. Rau notes his excitement in seeing the spread of a cappella music to other high schools. “It is becoming the norm for high schools to have an a cappella chorus. They learn great vocal techniques and interact with each other musically and socially. The students start writing their own arrangements, and when they get to college they are well prepared to join an a cappella group at that level,” Richard says.
At the Olin concert the audience will hear a cappella versions of the Beach Boys, the Beatles, James Taylor, the Eagles, spirituals, and classic doo-wop, such as “Come Go with Me” and “Blue Moon,” and maybe even some Bob Dylan and Jimmie Hendrix.
Tickets are required for this concert. Adults are $5 and children and students are $3. Seating is limited and a full house is expected. Tickets may be reserved by calling 207-225-5222 and leaving a message or go the concert website www.joiningvoices.webs.com.
