DCINY announces NYC premiere of choral composer Eric Whitacre's musical, Paradise Lost: Shadows & Wings (concert version)

Distinguished Concerts International New York is proud to announce the New York premiere of the concert version of American composer and choral idol Eric Whitacre's award-winning musical, Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings, at Carnegie Hall on June 15, 2010. The concert version of Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings combines trance, ambient and techno electronic with choral, cinematic, and operatic traditions. Grammy Award-winning soprano Hila Plitmann will sing the lead role of the angel Extasis, and Whitacre himself will be conducting, complete with taiko drummers, electronic playback, and a supporting onstage choir. DCINY is looking for choral ensembles and individual singers of exceptional quality to comprise the choir.
Whitacre has recently decided to select the best individual videos of each vocal part--soprano, alto, tenor, bass--from his new "virtual choir" project, www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh1c2xWVWiA and in turn, award four scholarships to those selected to join him and other singers and choirs from around the country to sing in the Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings June 15, 2010 production in New York City. Whitacre's "virtual choir" project is a thrilling and innovative collaborative music making event. Singers are invited to complete a quick YouTube registration and upload a video of themselves singing a SATB sectional part to his hauntingly beautiful composition, Lux Aurumque (Light of Gold) using a virtual conductor track they can view on his blog, ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/. Once all the videos have been uploaded, Whitacre himself will select the best individual videos of each of the parts, and award scholarships to those selected. The Eric Whitacre Scholarship is an incredible opportunity for singers to work directly with the composer during a four-day residency, culminating in a professional premiere performance. An additional four singers will be chosen for Mr. Whitacre's April 17, 2010 performance at Carnegie Hall. Submission deadline is December 1, 2009. Whitacre's first virtual choir project, which featured his well-loved work Sleep, can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1h3Tf26TcA.
For audition information, please visit the DCINY website, www.DCINY.org or contact Jeffery Thyer, 212-707-8566, Ext. 312 or Jeffery@DCINY.org. For press inquiries, contact Julie Kostrey 212-707-8566, Ext. 306 or Julie@DCINY.org.