Spencer Area Concert Association
Presents

(Photo © by Lukas Beck)

The Vienna Boys Choir

Saturday, February 14, 2009 — 8:00 p.m.
Old High School Auditorium
(104 East Fourth Street)

Reserved seating tickets available in advance at Arts on Grand in downtown Spencer.

The world-famous Vienna Boys Choir will appear in Spencer, IA, as part of their Spring 2009 U.S. tour—one of only two Iowa performances during this tour. (The other, in Iowa City, is sold out.) The concert, which will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday, February 14, at the Old High School Auditorium, is sure to warm the hearts of those fortunate enough to hear it on a cold Valentine’s night. Iowa Public Television will be in Spencer to shoot footage for an upcoming program about the performing arts in Iowa.

No group of child musicians has won more renown than the incomparable Wiener Sängerknaben, founded by Emperor Maximilian I in 1498. Six centuries later, the famed Vienna Boys Choir continues to delight music lovers across the globe with their purity of tone, distinctive charm, and a diverse, crowd-pleasing repertoire that encompasses Austrian folk songs and waltzes, classical masterpieces, and medieval chant. Gifted musicians with voices of unforgettable beauty, they carry on the Vienna Boys Choir’s illustrious tradition as the world’s preeminent—and best-loved—boys choir.

Today, there are around 100 choristers between the ages of ten and fourteen, divided into four touring choirs. The four choirs, each named for a composer, give around 300 concerts and performances each year, appearing before almost half a million people. Each group spends nine to eleven weeks of the school year on tour, visiting virtually all European countries, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

The Spencer concert will feature the Schubertchor, named for the composer Franz Schubert (who, as a boy, was a member of the choir). They will be led by composer and conductor Andy Icochea Icochea, who has been the Schubertchor’s choirmaster since 2005. In addition to their traditional fare, which combines classical, popular, and folk songs, their Spencer concert will include songs from the Vienna Boys Choir’s first feature film in nearly half a century, Silk Road—Songs Along the Road and Time.
The Vienna Boys Choir presents timeless music with universal popular appeal. With its broad repertoire, a Vienna Boys Choir performance is never just a concert for classical aficionados or season ticket regulars. This is a musical event for music lovers of all ages and from all walks of life. What better way for families to bond and children to discover new music!

The choir often performs in large churches and cathedrals, but for its Spencer concert it has chosen to perform in the historic Old High School Auditorium. With seating on the main floor and two balconies, there is not a bad seat in the house. The Auditorium’s acoustics are especially well suited to musical performances, and every seat offers an excellent view of the stage.

This concert is sponsored by the Spencer Area Concert Association (SACA), but is not part of the regular concert series. All seats for this concert will be reserved. Adult tickets are priced at $20 for SACA season ticket holders, or $30 for the general public. Student tickets are priced at $10 and $15. A special rate of $25 for adults and $12.50 for students is available for groups of fifteen or more. Tickets are available at Arts on Grand, 408 North Grand Avenue, Spencer, Iowa 51301. For more information or to make reservations, phone 712-262-4307.

This concert has been made possible in part by a Community Betterment Grant from the Clay County Community Foundation. Local business sponsors for this concert are U.S. Bank and re*be Skin Care.

As with our regular series concerts this season, free transportation is available for Spencer members who need it, thanks to the Regional Transit Authority (Rides) and Spencer Municipal Utilities. To arrange for transportation, phone 712-262-4307 by noon Friday, February 13.

Tickets for the general public are priced at $30 for adults and $15 for students. A special rate of $25 for adults and $12.50 for students is available for groups of 15 or more. Concert Association season ticket holders can still purchase their tickets at $20 for adults and $10 for students. All seats are reserved. Ticket order forms (including a seating chart) for all three pricing categories are available at Arts on Grand. Click here to open a copy of the order form for the general public. Payment must be by cash or check. For more information, phone Arts on Grand at 712-262-4307.

To download the complete program notes for the Vienna Boys Choir’s Spencer concert, including the texts and translations, click here.

Click here to visit the Vienna Boys Choir’s Web site.