Aurora is one of seven choral ensembles at Decorah, IA's Luther College, founded in 1981 and comprised of 100 first-year women, selected each fall by audition. Named Pike Kor from the mid-1980s until the spring of 2008 when the ensemble was renamed Aurora, latin for dawn. Aurora performs on and off-campus for worship services, participates in the annual Christmas at Luther concert, and presents a spring concert with The Norsemen. "Using Our Voices" is an 18-song collection, some are accompanied by piano, flute, and percussion. Particularly fine are Stephen Paulus' "Daybreak," Libby Larsen's powerful a cappella tune "The Womanly Song of God," Andrea Clearfield's "Sarah (from Women of Valor)," Daniel Kallman's "There Will Be Rest," Kinley Lange's "Esto les digo" and "Prayer for the Gifts," Craig Hella Johnson's "Will There Really Be a Morning?," Abbie Betinis' "Hail! Christmas day," Edwin Fissinger's "Love Came Down at Christmas," John Rutter's "Candlelight Carol" and "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day." These young voices seem talented and poised way beyond their years, singing difficult, sometimes eclectic material effortlessly and gracefully. Don't miss these beautiful, spirited, soaring harmonies from Aurora! |
