Missoula’s premier choral group, Dolce Canto, to perform Dec. 7 in Ronan
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
RONAN – A unique pairing of Christmas cheer and innovative choral music will highlight the Dolce Canto concert at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Ronan Performing Arts Center.
The concert is part of the series presented by Mission Valley Live. Tickets are $15 for adults, free for youths under 18 and $5 for college students with ID. Tickets are available at the door.
Dolce Canto is Missoula’s premier choral a cappella group. It was formed in 2001 and has a rich and lauded history in performance. In a telephone interview from Oklahoma where he is pursuing a doctorate in choral conducting at the University of Oklahoma, artistic director and conductor Yong Mao talked about the effort he puts into putting together a program. A native of China with a degree in electrical engineering, Mao brings compelling artistry and innovation to the group.
“The theme for this concert is ‘Unheard Voices.’ Our history is not all about these great composers, but about the people who didn’t make it to become the greatest.”
The program includes a short piece based on a mass put together by nuns in the 17th century. It also includes compositions written by composers from China, Estonia and Germany. Michael Marsolek, a board member who sings bass two in the choir, said performing music from all over the world is one trademark of the group.
“This isn’t going to be 90 minutes of Christmas carols," Marsolek said. “The thing that makes it so interesting to me, whether it is music-related to the season, there is something amazing about thinking about how we change, how even in the changing of the season, there is this amazing marking of moments of time. There is that feel of the passion. The program has music about snow and cold and winter and light.”
A Dolce Canto concert is a celebration of the human voice. While most of the music is sung a cappella, some will be sung with a piano as accompaniment. Dolce Canto is known for its tight clustered harmonies, with some pieces featuring eight different parts, Marsolek said.
“The harmonies are all across the sound spectrum,” Marsolek said. “We have the men with the lower voices all the way up to the high sopranos. That’s one thing that makes this program unique.”
Dolce Canto will spend part of Dec. 7 working with music students in local schools. The education component is part of the mission of Mission Valley Live. Mao incorporates education into everything he introduces to Dolce Canto.
“For many people, they think of music as a very emotional thing,” Mao said. “But there are a lot of rules behind it. The more you study about the music, you think about the theory behind the emotion and you discover the secrets behind the emotion. My forte is to break down those techniques into elements we can make more efficient.”
Choral music and the act of singing is a unifying force, Mao said. As we look at a country becoming so divisive, it is a comfort to hear voices singing in unity.
“Choral music makes our communities more harmonious. In our society, our individuality is encouraged,” Mao said. “In school, we obtain critical thinking and we are taught to be outstanding and different. In choral music, we unify as one. Every person is aiming at the ultimate mission of the whole team.”
Mao said when there are long lines, some 40 seconds long, the choir uses a technique of staggered breath so singers can stagger their breath to make the singing continuous. The audience will never hear a gap in the vocals.
The Dec. 7 concert will also feature some surprises for the audience, Mao said. So come, enjoy the innovative program and connecting with neighbors and friends during the special holiday season.
“There is just nothing like the magic of the human voice,” Marsolek said.
