KU Presents! Performing Artists Series will present Voctave, a Florida-based, 11-member a cappella group, on Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Schaeffer Auditorium at Kutztown University.
Founded by vocalist/arranger Jamey Ray in 2015, Voctave is mostly made up of members and alumni of Voices of Liberty, the a cappella ensemble which has been delighting visitors to EPCOT’s American Adventure rotunda since 1982, with patriotic and Americana songs and favorites from Disney films.
“We made our first video Oct. 18, 2015,” Ray said, “and it was the first time Voctave did anything together. When we decided to have our 10th anniversary tour, we sat down and chose our favorite songs from our first (eponymous) album in 2016 to our most recent (‘The Corner of Broadway and Main St., Vol. 3’ in 2024). Everything you’re going to hear in this concert is someone in the group’s favorite song.”
Voctave specializes in Disney and Broadway songs, interspersed with jazz and Christmas music during the holiday season. All their arrangements are created by Ray, who has had his work sung by Pentatonix, The King’s Singers, The Swingles and others. Ray also produces Voctave’s albums as well as those of other performers.
Ray said that as a composer and arranger of choral music, he was inspired by the legendary British composer John Rutter and American composer Morten Lauridsen, having sung their works since his BoyChoir days. More recently, he has become fond of the work of American contemporary composer/arrangers such as Elaine Hagenberg, Dan Forrest and Jake Runestad.
But as a former member of the Voices of Liberty at EPCOT, Ray said, the founder of the group, Derric Johnson, “is probably one of my favorite arrangers; he has inspired me in a way I can’t even put into words. He has been an unbelievable mentor to me.”
Johnson has written 150 original songs, 23 cantatas and 2,800 musical arrangements. He has published 32 choral collections and has helped produce 98 albums on 14 labels. He is also an ordained minister.
Voctave has performed internationally and has released 10 albums, including multiple No. 1 songs and albums on platforms like iTunes, Amazon and Spotify. They have ranked in the top 25 on Billboard Magazine’s charts.
Tickets for Voctave are $39 for adults, $37 for seniors and $19 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the KU Presents! website, https://www.kutztownpresents.org, or by calling the KU Presents! Box Office between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, at 610-683-4092.
Opera
Berks Opera Company has announced its upcoming production of “The Magic Flute.” Mozart’s timeless opera is filled with enchanting music, vivid characters and many layered themes of love, wisdom and courage.
The performance features singers from Albright College’s vocal arts department, many from the community, with orchestra, funded by The Presser Foundation and Reading Musical Foundation.
Performances will be held on Nov. 21-23 at Albright Theater, located in the Center for the Arts on Albright’s 13th Street campus, with tickets available through Albright College’s box office by calling 610-921-7547 or online at https://ift.tt/7U8eDLi.
“The collaboration of ‘The Magic Flute’ with Berks Opera showcases the remarkable talent, dedication, and creativity of our emerging artists,” said Jeffrey Lentz, director of the production and coordinator of Albright’s vocal performance program. “Audiences can expect a fresh, imaginative take on Mozart’s beloved opera — a vibrant blend of music, storytelling and visual artistry that highlights the depth of our students’ artistic vision.”
Behind-the-scenes videos and singer bios can be found on the event page at https://ift.tt/quBjXLx.
Don’t miss this captivating journey into a world where music and magic unite to celebrate the power of harmony and hope.
