Six Coastal Carolina University students recently performed four concerts with the Carolina Master Chorale, the premiere symphonic chorus in the region, Feb. 10-12. The student performers were winners of the Carolina Master Chorale/Coastal Carolina University Student Vocal Competition, held in November 2017.

Student performers included seniors Whitney Daniels, a vocal performance major; Francesca Brown, Brian Bruno, Paige Mason and Corey Ryan, all BFA musical theater majors; and junior Sarah Parker, a BFA musical theater major. They performed solos from Broadway and operatic repertoire, with and without chorus.

The Valentine's weekend program was titled "All You Need is Love" and was performed in Pawleys Island, Surfside Beach, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach.v Timothy Koch, CCU teaching associate, serves as musical director for the Carolina Master Chorale (CMC), and Daniel Francis, also a teaching associate, serves as CMC collaborative pianist. Other faculty members performing with the Chorale include D. Scott Ferguson, piano accompanist; Charles Jones Evans, teaching associate and musical director of the Long Bay Symphony; and Fran Gilbert, retired vice president for development.

"These concerts were wonderful for our choir and for the large, enthusiastic audiences that attended each performance." said Koch. "Audiences were thrilled at the quality of each student presentation. The students themselves, though, were probably the biggest winners. Though they often appear on stages in theatrical presentations, it is a rare situation to sing on a concert stage as oneself, rather than in costume and character makeup. Further, it is an artistic challenge to be accompanied by a symphonic choir of more than 60 voices and a world-class pianist. I am certain these six students will reflect on this experience as one of the top highlights of their college careers."

For more information on the Carolina Master Chorale or the Coastal Carolina University Student Vocal Competition, contact Koch at 843-349-2637.