The Saint Vincent College Singers will present their fall concert, “An American Portrait,” at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 24 in the Robert S. Carey Student Center Performing Arts Center. Admission is $10 and no reservations are required.

Directed by assistant professor of music Thomas Octave, the Singers will perform a selection of jazz, Broadway, spirituals and contemporary works.

The program will include two works by Nancy Galbraith, the chair of the composition department at Carnegie Mellon University. Other pieces include: “Another Op’nin’, Another Show” from Kiss Me Kate by Cole Porter; “No Mirrors In My Nana’s House” by composer Ysaye M. Barnwell; “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel; music from the Broadway musical “The Secret Garden;” spirituals, “Wade In The Water” and “I Want To Be Ready;” and paying tribute to Pittsburgh born composer Stephen Foster, the choir will perform a medley of his works; “This Marriage” by American composer Eric Whitacre; and the classics “Mr. Sandman” and “Sh-boom, Sh-boom.” The concert concludes with patriotic songs.

The 35-voice chorus members include Mary C. Aliff, a junior anthropology major from Finleyville; Sarah M. Bana, a sophomore elementary instruction major from White Oak; Cornelius B. Boggs, a sophomore biology major from Newark, New Jersey; Zachary E. Burger, a sophomore music major from Hagerstown, Maryland; TerriLynn Cheponis, a senior elementary instruction major from Pittsburgh (15237); Casey M. Ciocco, a freshman psychology major from Latrobe; Simon P. Clayton, a sophomore psychology major from East Orange, New Jersey; Nathaniel L. Dippold, a senior mathematics major from Saint Marys; Matthew R. Dolcich, a junior chemistry major from Venetia; Lauren J. Donahue, a sophomore theology major from Walkersville, Maryland; Alyssa M. Dye, a junior mathematics major from Connellsville; Christopher W. Fiano, a senior mathematics major from Connellsville; Lauren M. Gates, a senior theology major from Pittsburgh (15237); Gabrielle M. Genovese, a junior art history major from Kittanning; Sarah E. Gower, a junior elementary instruction major from Latrobe; Mara L. Greiner, a freshman pharmacy major from Greensburg; Khrystal L. Gresko, a junior arts administration major from Greensburg; Alyssa S. Hennessy, a sophomore communication major from Latrobe; Carol Hung from Taiwan; Gabe A. Jakubisin, a senior philosophy major from Fairview Park, Ohio; Erin E. Kelly, a senior psychology major from Coraopolis; Natalie A. Larson, a freshman elementary instruction major from Harrisburg; Kari A. Maurer, a sophomore elementary instruction major from Pittsburgh (15220); Christine E. Nicklaus, a junior sociology major from Pittsburgh (15227); Sheila C. O’Malley, a junior elementary instruction major from Silver Springs, Maryland; John Renda, a junior biology major from Dover; Zachary M. Rumski, a sophomore arts administration major from Pittsburgh (15210); Averie Lynn Shaughnessy, a freshman arts administration major from Monroeville; Patrick J. Shiner, a junior marketing major from Cleona; Amanda J. Skwara, a junior biology major from Latrobe; Zachary A. Tackett, a freshman English major from Lower Burrell; Lindsay Marie Thomas, a junior elementary instruction major from White Oak; Donna Wang from Taiwan; Samantha T. Weisser a junior biology major from Delmont and Ashleigh L. Yuska, a senior marketing major from Pittsburgh (15239).

Thomas Octave is a conductor and baritone soloist who has performed throughout the United States and Europe. He holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Music from Duquesne University. Mr. Octave has performed the roles of Dandini, Germont and Figaro in the opera repertoire. He also was an oratorio soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Magnificat, and the Fauré Requiem. Mr. Octave has performed with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Westmoreland Symphony and the Pittsburgh Camerata. He has presented music for the Queen of Jordan and First Lady of Uganda. He conducted the Pittsburgh premiere of the Andrew Lloyd Weber Requiem in 2001. In 2004, he conducted the world premiere of Nancy Galbraith’s oratorio “God of Justice” with Mimi Lerner as soloist. He conducted the Diocesan Choir of Greensburg in its Rome tour of 2006. In the spring of 2007, he presented the world premiere of Nancy Galbraith’s “Novena” in Chicago. A long-time collaborator with Nancy Galbraith, he has presented the premiers of her “Ave Maria” and “O Magnum Mysterium.”

Mr. Octave has served as the director of music ministry at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg, the director of the Diocesan Choir of Greensburg and the Cathedral Concert Series. Currently, he is the assistant music director of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, music director at Mount Saint Peter Parish in New Kensington and is the music director for Beit Benedict Peace Academy of the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem in addition to his role as assistant professor of music at Saint Vincent College.

Further details are available by contacting Mr. Octave in the Fine Arts Department, 724 805-2483, thomas.octave@email.stvincent.edu

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