St. Ursula Academy vocalists perform at Carnegie Hall for the fourth time since 1999

Cincinnati, Ohio – Feb. 12, 2007:  For the fourth time since 1999, the St. Ursula Academy Vocal Ensemble (SUAVE) has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.  The group received a special invitation from Maestro Jonathan Griffith, principal conductor-in-residence with MidAmerica Productions in New York City, to perform the Mozart Requiem on Monday, January 15, 2007.  The Vocal Ensemble performed the work in a massed chorus composed of select choirs from throughout the United States.  The 5-day New York residency included two days of intense rehearsals with Maestro Griffith, culminating in the performance on stage at Carnegie Hall, accompanied by the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

“It is truly an honor for the Vocal Ensemble to have been invited to sing at Carnegie Hall once again.  I am so proud of my students for accepting the challenge of learning Mozart’s choral masterpiece and for being a part of such an outstanding performance,” says St. Ursula Academy Music Director Kathy Backherms.

Senior Sara Fletcher, who has been a member of SUAVE since her junior year says that “the trip to Carnegie Hall was such an amazing experience.  The combination of the metropolitan cultural experience, the hours of hard work in rehearsal, and the experience of performing on a world-renowned stage made the trip unforgettable.  I was so honored to be treated as a professional vocalist in a truly professional atmosphere.”

SUAVE is a 12-member select ensemble that has performed extensively in the tri-state area and also has been competing in various show choir competitions since 1995 with appearances in Nashville, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Chicago, Ill, St. Louis, Mo., Louisville, Ky., and Sandusky and Cincinnati, Ohio.  The group has captured numerous awards and distinctions within these competitions including First Place Trophies with consistent ratings of “Superior” in the High School Show Choir Division, and Overall Choral Award for the highest number of points of all high school choral ensembles, the “Grand Sweepstakes Award” for having received the highest number of points of all high school choral ensembles competing over three-week festivals, “Outstanding Section”, “Outstanding Soloist”, and “Outstanding Accompanist”.        

St. Ursula Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory, secondary school for young women.  In 2002 the academy was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of St. Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910.