Music Students to Present Annual Madrigal Feaste, Dec. 5-6
JONESBORO – In the style of Merrie Olde England with costumes, decorations, comedy and fanfare, the Arkansas State University Choirs will present the annual Madrigal Feaste in the Grand Hall of A-State’s Fowler Center on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6.
The Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, led by Dr. Dale Miller, director of choral activities, will host the evening’s entertainment. They will serve as the court of “King Henry the Eighth of England, Jonesboro, and Craighead County.” Guests will enjoy the wassail bowl beginning 15 minutes prior to seating, which begins with the first fanfare at 7 p.m. both evenings.
Tickets for both performances will be available through Monday, Dec. 1, at the Central Box Office, 972-2781, or online at AState.edu/tickets. Proceeds will benefit the A-State Choir concert tour fund.
Music for the feaste will include traditional carols by the servers and audience, brass fanfares and harpsichord solos, as well as madrigals and chansons by the royal court.
The menu for the royal feaste will include baby lettuce with dried cranberries, feta & walnuts, grilled chicken breast with white wine cream sauce, twice-baked potato casserole, green beans with roasted red peppers, and rolls. A flaming pudding will be served with the royal fanfare.
King Henry the Eighth and Queen Anne Boleyn will be played by Kane Bradley of Russellville and Emily Garren of Blytheville.
The lords and ladies of the Royal Court, played by the members of the Chamber Singers, are: Dennese Adkins and Baylee Stracener, both of Cabot, and Cori Beasley of Gilmer, Texas, sopranos; Megan Carter of Gosnell, Morgan Langley of White Hall, Maegan McDaniel of Manila, and Loren Snook of Bradford, mezzo-sopranos; Grant Atkins of Springdale, Jacob Bushong of Paragould, and Jeffrey Steward of Oil Trough, tenors; and Kale McDaniel of Jonesboro, Hal Niederbrach of Searcy, Gregory Self of Williford, and Drew Warren of Manila, basses.
David Norris of Southside will play the steward and John Yerger of Jonesboro will serve as jester. The knaves and wenches will be played by other members of the A-State Concert Choir.
Brian Henkelmann, instructor of music, will play harpsichord, and the student brass ensemble will also play. The brass ensemble will include Adonias Finch of Dyer, Tennessee, and Matt Penny of Jonesboro, trumpets, Micah Glover, horn, Andy Hackenworth, trombone, and Cody Hutchinson, tuba, all of Jonesboro.
Seats for the performances are reserved and are limited by space available. Ticket prices are $40 for the general public, and $35 for university faculty, staff, and students, as well as senior citizens.
For more details about the Madrigal Feaste, one may contact Miller in the Department of Music at (870) 972-3841.
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