THURSDAY, 28 JULY 2016, 19H00 HOëRSKOOL WONDERBOOM SKOOLSAAL @ R50 pp bookings: info@conwonnite.co.za MEN IN BLAQUE University of California, Irvine - USA The Men in Blaque, formed in 1997 at the University of California, Irvine, present the traditions in singing 15th - 20th century choral music in original voicing. Over 350 selections are in the repertoire of this eclectic repertory ensemble. Following the lead of Chanticleer and the King's Singers, Men in Blaque perform music from many eras and genres. The singers include computer specialists; dancers; clergy as well as students majoring in music, biology, physics, history, computer science and business. The wide range of repertoire and performance programming includes scripted narrative, choreographic staging and concert positioning to help enhance and project the style of the music. At the invitation of the artistic director of the XX Semana Coral Internacional de Alava and Caja de Burgos International Days on Choral Music, found the men in Spain during the memorable and historical date of September 11, 2001. The concert that took place at the church in Izzara, in the foothills of northern Spain, was captured on a live digital recording. The Men in Blaque were honored to share a workshop with the internationally acclaimed ensemble Chanticleer in February, 2005 at UC Irvine. 2006 saw the Men in Blaque invited to compete in the World Choir Games in Xiamen, China. Our two silver medal performances and gold certificate for the highest score in the preliminary rounds from 240 choirs afforded much excitement in the UC Irvine community. At the World Choir Games of 2010, a Championship Trophy, three Gold Medals and Category Winners in Shaoxing, China made the Men in Blaque celebrated winners. The Men participated in the Yeosu International Choral Competition in South Korea in 2013. In July 2014 the men won championship Trophies in Bratislava, Slovakia. Men in Blaque have recorded five CD’s, the most recent being released in 2015. They have also commissioned 15 new works to date. Vytautus Miskinis, Javier Busto and Imant Raminsh are among noted composers writing for the award-winning ensemble. Dr. Joseph Huszti – Conductor Conductor Joseph Huszti is Professor Emeritus of Music in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts. During his tenure at Irvine, twenty-seven international concert tours have included prize winning performances at the International Musical Eisteddfod, Llangollen, Wales (1979, 1986, 1992, 1997, 2008), Béla Bartók International Choral Competition, Debrecen, Hungary (1988, 1994, 2000), the Koorfest, den Haag, Holland (1979), World Choir Games (2006, 2010) and Bratislava, Slovakia (2014). The University of California, Irvine choirs under his direction have performed concerts in the cathedrals of York, Sterling, Westminster, Coventry, Canterbury, Ely, Burgos, Liverpool and Boston as well as presenting formal concerts in London, Tokyo, Burgos, Shanghei, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Budapest, Warsaw, Prague, and Vienna. Before coming to California, Huszti headed the choral activities at Boston University's School for the Arts and directed the Young Vocalists Program from 1972-1977 in Lenox, Massachusetts at the Tanglewood Festival. He collaborated with internationally renowned musicians including Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Norman Dello Joio at Tanglewood. Huszti is one of 30 outstanding American choral conductors featured in the book, In Quest of Answers. Recent awards at the University of California include the Distinguished University Service Award, "Lauds and Laurels"; Favorite Professor in the School of the Arts; Associated Students Teaching Award in 1998 and Outstanding Professor in the School of the Arts Award by the senior class in 2001. A celebration concert in June, 2009, saw over 200 present and former students serenade Professor Huszti and to honor his 50 years of college/university teaching.