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The Voices of Gwynedd

Carol Evans, Director

The Voices of Gwynedd is a 100-member choir representing full and part-time students, faculty, staff and alumni of Gwynedd-Mercy College. Directed by Carol Evans, a seasoned soprano and assistant professor of music in the College's School of Arts and Sciences, the choir has developed into a highly professional choral ensemble presenting quality programs representing many different genres. Performances by the choir and its musical collaborators are establishing the college as a strong cultural presenter in South Eastern Pennsylvania and the entire Tri-state area.

To help commemorate Gwynedd-Mercy College's 50th Anniversary, the ensemble accompanied the Ireland Heritage Tour, performing for a variety of concert venues throughout Ireland. The Voices traveled to San Diego, CA in the spring 1999, and performed at Spanish Missions, the U.S. Naval Base, and at Walt Disneyland in Los Angeles. During the summer of 2001, the choir successfully completed a concert tour to London, England and its surrounding areas. The group has expanded its repertoire with concert tours in Virginia, Washington, D.C., Nashville and Canada. The group was invited to New York City to perform at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, "Music Makers" program in March 1998. In spring 2003 the Voices of Gwynedd sang at Carnegie Hall performing the Mozart Requiem directed by John Rutter.

In addition, the ensemble has represented the college at a number of high profile regional events. Their most recent regional events include performances at the Philadelphia Phillies games, performances with Barry Manilow on ìThe Ultimate Manilowî Concert Tour, performances with Broadway singer Linda Eder on her Holiday Tour, and as the featured choir with Judy Collins on her Christmas Tour. In May 2007, the Voices of Gwynedd will perform for the fifth time at the opening ceremonies for the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

The Voices were honored in 1999 when they were asked to sing at the world premier grand finale of Leslie Burrs' opera Vanqui, at Opera/Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. In February 2002, Vanqui received the Legacy Award from the National Opera Association, and once again the Voices of Gwynedd performed the choral works from the opera for the National Opera Association convention in Philadelphia, PA. The Voices also served as the Opera Chorus for Opera Northís fully staged production of Vanqui May 7, 2005 at the Prince Theater in Philadelphia and again for the multi-media concert performance of Vanqui at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, March, 2006.