Auburn University professor to conduct Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ at Lincoln Center

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Distinguished Concerts International New York, or DCINY, will welcome William Powell and 26 Auburn University students on May 29 to perform at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Powell, professor of music in the College of Liberal Arts and director of choral activities at Auburn University, will be conducting Vivaldi's "Gloria" as part of the special night. DCINY is presenting the performance, "With Strength and Joy," as part of an anti-bullying event with proceeds to benefit the Tyler Clementi Foundation.

DCINY is an organization that puts on concerts in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center throughout the season, and provides a means for many localized performing/vocal ensembles to sing on the main stage of these halls.

The 26 students represent each of the seven Auburn choral ensembles and will combine with several other groups from around the country to perform. DCINY conducted a rigorous set of auditions for prospective groups and the students auditioned and passed.

While some of the students might be visiting New York for the first time, Powell is no stranger to the prestigious performance venue.

"I am thrilled about the opportunity to return to the Lincoln Center as a guest conductor for DCINY," Powell said.

Powell teaches choral-related courses and conducts the Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Men's Chorus and Gospel Choir at Auburn. He has conducted performances regionally, nationally and internationally. Powell also adjudicates choral festivals and has presented sessions for American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Educators and others. His music is published by Hal Leonard, Oxford University Press, and Gentry Publications, which will release "The William Powell Choral Series" this year. He holds degrees from Alabama State University, Westminster Choir College and Florida State University.

Auburn's choral program consists of seven different choirs: Chamber Choir, Conductors' Chorus, Concert Choir, Gospel Choir, Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus and University Singers show choir. Throughout its history, members of the Auburn University Choirs have performed throughout various parts of the United States, Europe and Russia. They have produced recordings and have appeared on national television, radio and other mass media outlets, and have premiered works by nationally recognized American composers. Collectively, the Auburn choirs perform approximately 50 concerts each year, reaching thousands of audience members annually.

For more information about the concert, go to cla.auburn.edu.

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.