The Cantus men’s vocal ensemble performed at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Friday, October 4th.
The concert, held in Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts was performed to a sold-out house.
Cantus performed a wide-range of styles including folk songs from around the world, traditional American music and an arrangement of “Grave Digger” by Dave Matthews Band.
The group of nine men performs at more than 70 concerts each year nationally and internationally, as well as in their home of Minneapolis-St.Paul. The group is one of few full-time men’s ensembles in the nation. Their dedication to the ensemble is evident in their repeated outstanding performances.
For many in attendance, it was not their first time seeing the ensemble.
“I’ve seen Cantus three times. I can’t get enough of their sound” Andrew Jonas, senior music major said. “I think it’s great that the Performing Arts Series was able to have such an amazing group come to campus this year.”
The Performing Arts Series brings premier acts to UW-Platteville. This year, Trombone Shorty and Ring of Fire are included in the stacked 2013-2014 schedule.
Cantus is part of a long tradition of men’s singing and inspires many men’s groups across the nation. One such group on campus is the The Good Intentions. All nine members of the student run ensemble were in attendance at Cantus’s concert.
Student ensemble leader for the Good Intentions, Nick Winders, got the privilege to speak directly with Cantus tenor, Gary Ruschman after the show in which Ruschman said the he was very interested in the ensemble work the men are doing here on campus, and only hoped that Cantus could be an encouragement to The Good Intentions and motivation to continue their singing involvement well after college.
“Cantus and other ensembles like this are a big part of why this group was started here on campus. You can see all the fun they have on stage while performing, and it’s something we aspire to,” Winders said.
Cantus is currently continuing their national tour.