Resonance Ensemble named Ensemble-in-Residence at Linfield University
PORTLAND, OR — Resonance Ensemble hits the road this week, beginning a semester-long residency of performances and workshops at Linfield University. Known as the Lacroute Composer Readings and Chamber Music Mentorship Program, the residency offers student composers the opportunity to work closely with professional mentor musicians. The first concert of the residency will feature commissions and other works from living composers from across Resonance Ensemble’s 15-year history, and takes place at 7pm on Thursday, February 15th at Linfield’s Vivian A. Bull Music Center, in Delkin Recital Hall.
“The works we are performing are deeply meaningful to Resonance Ensemble and have been impactful on our listeners in Portland, and we’re excited to share them with the Linfield community now,” says Artistic Director Dr. Katherine FitzGibbon. “We are thrilled that Linfield invited us to be in residence this semester so that their composition students will have access to performances and coaching opportunities with Resonance’s professional choral musicians.”
““I’m really grateful for the chance I’ve had to compose for Resonance. Writing music is one of the big passions of my life, and composing for voice is a really unique and compelling world to play in. I’m so excited to work with the Linfield students.”
Composer Workshops, and Performances
Dr. Katherine FitzGibbon, Resonance Ensemble Artistic Director
In addition to the performance, FitzGibbon and Resonance Ensemble’s Cecille Elliott will be conducting a series of educational lectures for student composers at Linfield, sharing their expertise on how to write for voices and mentoring the students as they work on their own choral compositions throughout this semester.
Cecille Elliott, Resonance Ensemble commissioned-composer and vocalist
Elliott, an audience favorite from Resonance Ensemble, is a multifaceted musician specializing in voice, violin, and viola. Her Resonance-commissioned work, We Are Murmurs, premiered at the 2023 Dirty, Stupid Music cabaret–and has quickly become one of Resonance Ensemble’s most-performed works.
Throughout the semester, Linfield composition students will write choral works of their own, which will be workshopped and performed by Resonance Ensemble musicians this spring. Students will have a chance to refine their works throughout the spring, even hearing the full choir read through their works in advance of the concert to receive feedback.
“We are so pleased to welcome Resonance Ensemble to Linfield to work with our students,” says William Campbell, Director of Composition Studies for Linfield University. “This is a great opportunity for our students to hear their works in the hands of true professionals and better understand the possibilities of the human voice.”
The final concert featuring student works will take place on Wednesday, May 8th at 7:30pm, with the public invited to attend.
“We look forward to this semester-long residency at Linfield,” says FitzGibbon. “We’re grateful to Professor Campbell for his vision and looking forward to connecting with his students as they develop their choral artistry.”
The concert is free and open to the public, thanks to the generosity of sponsor Ronni Lacroute.
For more information
Event Information | About Resonance Ensemble
About Cecille Elliott | About Katherine FitzGibbon
Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon
Note to Journalists: Artistic Director Katherine FitzGibbon is available for print, online, and broadcast interviews. If you would like more information or would like to schedule an interview, please contact Liz Bacon Brownson at liz@resonancechoral.org or by calling (503) 427-8701.
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