Indiana Univ Singing Hoosiers Perform 4/4 At IU Auditorium

America's premier show choir, the Indiana University Singing Hoosiers, will perform its 59th annual spring concert, "A Celebration of American Popular Music," at IU Auditorium April 4 at 8 p.m. The vocal ensemble performs American popular music, jazz and Broadway favorites with dazzling choreography, energy and style.

The upcoming Bloomington performance follows the Singing Hoosiers' recent participation in the Inaugural Ball of the Indiana Society of Washington, D.C., and number of performances throughout the eastern United States this past winter.

"It will be so wonderful, as always, to sing for our audience in Bloomington, including IU students, a broad cross-section of our community and the many Singing Hoosiers alumni who have grown to enjoy hearing our music and supporting the stars and leaders of tomorrow," said Michael Schwartzkopf, director of the ensemble.

The spring performance includes music for the entire family, featuring Broadway tunes (from the hit Damn Yankees), classic rock 'n roll and standards from the popular music repertoire, such as works by Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin. One set will feature the music of Aaron Copland and Eric Whitacre. The music will be enhanced by the choreographic talents of The Varsity Singers.

Also included in the lineup is a guest performance by the IU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Christopher Ludwa.

About the Singing Hoosiers

The Singing Hoosiers are considered America's premier collegiate concert show choir. Averaging 100 members, the group features collegiate performers from the world-renowned Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, as well as students with a variety of other majors, from business to chemistry to political science. They perform American popular music, jazz and Broadway favorites.

Annually, the Singing Hoosiers perform several concerts at home on the campus of IU Bloomington, including the "Chimes of Christmas" concert in December and their Spring Concert. The group has also appeared in the Jacobs School's opera and oratorio productions and at Big Ten basketball games.

Throughout the group's 58-year history, the Singing Hoosiers have appeared with such legendary entertainers as Bob Hope, Alan Sherman, Red Buttons, Tony Bennett, Duke Ellington and Indiana's favorite son, Hoagy Charmichael. The group also has performed with opera legend Sylvia McNair and with several professional symphony orchestras, including the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, Evansville Philharmonic, South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops.

With Maestro Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops, the Singing Hoosiers performed at Carnegie Hall in 1995 and appeared on a televised PBS Christmas special with Mel Torme. This partnership with the Pops has resulted in the release of several recordings on the Telarc International label. These include the Grammy-nominated A Disney Spectacular and The Music Man. They have also recorded The Magical Music of Disney, Hollywood's Greatest Musicals, Magical Musicals and, most recently, in 2007, Christmastime is Here.

For more information, see http://www.indiana.edu/~singingh/.