UW-Platteville’s Chamber Choir, University Singers and Symphony Orchestra combined forces to take Franz Joseph Haydn’s Mass in D Minor on Sunday, March 5. The performance featured alumni soloists Sara Jordan, Abby Goodhall, Nathan Greve, and Keaton Payne. They joined faculty soloist Rebekah Demaree in tackling the challenging piece.

Demaree commented on the difficulty of the performance, saying that “preparation was serious. I had to practice a lot, and daily.” She went on to talk about the challenges of working with such a large number of musicians. “Tempo is one of those things that really needs structure in order to have clean transitions between the choir and soloists.”

Tackling Haydn’s Mass in D Minor pushed students and faculty alike to work together to ensure the success of the piece. “This Mass, the Lord Nelson, is, I think, the highest level of the Masses and it has the most involved soprano solo,” Demaree said. She was glad to have been able to share the stage with those she had previously taught, as well as those she is currently teaching.

Stephanie Klein, director of University Singers, echoed this sentiment, saying, “These students really worked together. It was cool to see their collaboration with Chamber Choir, as well as soloists and orchestra.” University Singers is the choir just above the beginner choir, Concert Choir, and they began rehearsals for this concert at the very start of the semester. Klein was proud of her students’ work and commends all that were a part of this massive undertaking.

The performance sold over 250 seats and filled the Brodbeck Concert Hall. People of all ages came together to share the brilliant Haydn piece and the hard work of the many students involved. In the reception lobby following the performance, audience members had nothing but glowing reviews to give. The Performing and Visual Arts Department has several upcoming concerts this spring, including performances by the Symphonic Winds Orchestra the Jazz Orchestra and the Treble and Bass Choirs.