A pitch perfect performance

PHOTOS AND STORY BY PAIGE GALEA

Students continued with Sheridan’s mission to get creative last Saturday in the SCAET auditorium.

The Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program and the Animation Arts and Design students teamed on a collaborative choir and animation performance like no other.

Lux Aurumque By Eric Whitacre

Lux Aurumque, the choral music of Eric Whitacre, was recreated in a unique event that merged vocals and animation.
“It blew me away, the incredible beauty of the music and the technology of compiling all these videos into one performance,” said Greg Andrews, composer and Sheridan faculty member. “I was in love with the music and following Sheridan’s mandate, getting creative, I have always been a big believer in collaborating with other people in the college and this seemed like the perfect time.”

Greg Andrews Sheridan Faculty member and Conductor of Sheridan`s rendition of Lux Aurumque

With a full auditorium of friends and family awaiting the production, choir members filed onto the stage, with all the females in the front and all the males in the back.

Conductor Andrews walked to centrestage and with a single gesture to his right the piano commenced and slowly the choir began to sing in harmony.

What made this event unlike other choir performances was the use of video and animation in the background, produced by the Animation program.

For each song a different themed video was played.

“ I wanted to create a choral performance that was outside of the box of traditional choral performances and that was to include a visual element that I think reflected the beauty of music on an equivalent visual level, so as people listen to the music and the beautiful chords they are also being impacted by the visual beauty,” said Andrews.

The video for the first song, “Lux Aurumque,” was represented by animations of different coloured landscapes, moving mountains and skies.

The dynamics and pitches of the choir were very powerful.
The use of gradual tones, various intertwined melodies and different sounds hummed or spoken created a compelling performance.

Five Hebrew Love Songs By Eric Whitacre

For the third song, “Five Hebrew Love Songs,” violinist Emily Lukasik, a third-year student in the Music Theatre Performance program came to stage.

“I’ve been playing the violin since I was little and thanks to this program I’ve had an excuse to keep it up after high school,” said Lukasik.

Andrews explains that a Choral Production is going to happen every year.

“ I would love to do it again. It would be a privilege to work with the faculty and students in the animation program again.”