USD Magazine, Winter 1998

ALCALA 7/lmanac

repertoire, while her master's and doctorate are in the field of contemporary music performance. Sublett has great confidence in the Choral Scholars, a performance choir of students on music scholarships, and the uni– versity choir, a non-auditioned choir that is open to USD students, staff, faculty and alumni. That confidence is reflected in the ambitious programs she is producing this year. In December, the university choir presented a concert of seasonal music by French composers, including "Quatre Motets Pour le Temps de Noel" by Francis Poulenc and "Messe de Minuit" by Marc– Antoine Charpentier. In the spring, they will perform Handel's "Dettingen Te Deum," at 8 p.m., May 8, and 2 p.m., May 10, in Founders Chapel. The Choral Scholars, in addition to

Virginia Sublett

W hether she is singing or directing a choir, Virginia Sublett uses a simple gauge to determine how a concert is going: She listens for coughing. "Coughing in the theater is a comment," notes the new director of the USD Choral Scholars and the University Community Choir. "In a concert, the audience and the performers enter into a compact. There's a bond that's palpable with a good performance." When she hears coughing, she knows that bond is weak. Far from being a passive component of a concert, Sublett believes an audience is essential to the musical connec– tion being made, participating just as much from the seats as the performers on the stage. Sublett came to the USD conducting position in September with keen knowledge as a performer. She is a professional opera and concert singer, and held principal solo roles with the New York City Opera, the Los Angeles Baroque Opera and the opera company of Nice, France. She performs with symphony orchestras and chamber presenting numerous concerts throughout the year for university events and choral competitions, are producing a fully staged Baroque opera, which will be held at 8 p.m., March 6, and 2 p.m., March 8, in Shiley Theatre. The opera is a first for the choral group, but Sublett is sure they are up to the task. In fact, they already have been invited to perform the opera in New York City as part of the fifth annual music festi– val, "Early Music at St. Peter's," scheduled for March 15 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Manhattan. The Choral Scholars will perform the opera with members of the USD orchestra, directed by Angela Yeung, USD assistant professor of music. Matters of the Heart, Mind 6 Spirit S tudents at USD are familiar with the rigorous academic criteria to make the dean's list. But how does an institu– The university won praise for its Ethics Across the Curriculum initiative, the list of character-building opportunities that earned USD a spot on the honor roll. A description of the music ensembles across the country, most recently with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. The Kansas City, Kan., native has lived in San Diego for 17 years. She stepped in front of a choir for the first time five years ago as the assistant conductor for choral activities at UCSD. While conducting and singing have similar performance qualities, Sublett says the contrasting requirements make each role satisfying. "In singing, I'm responsible only for myself," she explains. "Someone tells me what music to sing, and I do it. In choral conducting, I choose the music myself, trying to decide what makes a good program and what's appealing to the audience and the performance." Not only does Sublett love working with the young voices in choral conducting, she relishes the repertoire of centuries-old music. Much of Sublett's solo performance activity has been in 17th and 18th century

which was established to introduce the discussion of moral values into a wide spec– trum of academic courses. University ministry programs that encourage an active spir– itual life and foster leadership opportunities also impressed the six-member panel of judges. And USD's well– known community service– learning program topped off

university in the foundation guidebook reads, "Integrity, spiritual and religious val– ues, and a commitment to family and a better society are the character mandates of a USD education." The book will be distributed to public libraries, high school counselors and students across the nation.

tion get named to such a list?

It's not through grades, but instead by an assessment of campus programs, that USD earned a place on the 1997-98 Honor Roll for Character-Building Colleges. The John Templeton Foundation, established in 1987 to promote the character development of young people, compiles the list every two years. USD is one of 135 schools from 42 states to earn the distinction.

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