Soaring vocals filled a classroom in Wilkins Theatre on Kean University's Union campus on Friday, October 18, as the Kean Concert Choir and Women's Chorus sang in a master class with an internationally known artist, Vienna Boys Choir Artistic Director and President Gerald Wirth.
Officials say President Wirth was at Kean for a concert by the famed choir at Enlow Recital Hall that evening.
The Vienna Boys Choir was created more than 500 years ago. Wirth, who has been its artistic director since 2001 and president since 2013, performed with the choir himself as a child. He spent more than an hour conducting students of Mark Terenzi, D.Mus., Kean professor of music and director of choral activities. Wirth worked with the students as they sang three classical pieces in German. "Sing like you're playing the violin," he instructed the students.
Wirth was welcomed to the class by performances from students Asia Johnson, a senior musical performance and pedagogy major from Clayton; Emilie Filipek, a senior piano performance and pedagogy major from Springfield; and Aaron Geusic, a senior music education major from Warren. Johnson, pictured above left, said Wirth's guidance was "transformational."
Wirth was welcomed to the class by performances from students Asia Johnson, a senior musical performance and pedagogy major from Clayton; Emilie Filipek, a senior piano performance and pedagogy major from Springfield; and Aaron Geusic, a senior music education major from Warren. Johnson, pictured above left, said Wirth's guidance was "transformational."