Published July 5, 2018
In mid-July, Dr. Deborah Chandler and some members of the University of Louisiana
Monroe Chorus will be more than 6,000 miles from northeastern Louisiana performing
at the 14th Annual International Festival of the Aegean on the island of Syros, Greece.The festival is July 15-29.
The ULM group will be joined by singers from the Monroe Symphony Chorus, south Louisiana
and Tallahassee, Fla.
ULM Chorus singers include Kristin Chandler, Jose Cordova, Naomi Naquin, Tyler Schweinefus,
Ali Owens and Caitlin Struth, and from the Monroe Symphony Chorus, Kyle Gregory, Scott
Williams, Laura Smith, Allison Friloux, Kathy Cordova, Jennifer Patterson and Fernando
Cordova.
Chandler is an Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities in the
School of Visual and Performing Arts at ULM. In June 2017 she was the conductor a
concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The organizers were so impressed they invited
her to conduct at the festival in Greece.
“This is the same group that asked me to conduct at Carnegie Hall,” Chandler said
of MidAmerican Productions International. “The founder, the head maestro asked, ‘Would
you be interested in conducting in Greece?’”
Of course the answer was yes and Chandler invited interested singers who could make
the trip to join her. In all, 17 are going. Chandler leaves Sunday, July 8.
“We’re all going over to Athens and then go to the island of Syros for about 10 days.
We will join other singers from around the world in five performances, three with
orchestra. I’ll be conducting two of our concerts,” Chandler said.
“Then we’ll go back to Athens and do another concert before we come home,” she said.
“This opportunity is opening a lot of doors that I never thought would open. I’m thrilled
some of my ULM students, former students and symphony members will have this experience.”
