World Renowned Choral Composer Ola Gjeilo to Perform with the

Unionville High School Choir Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 7 p.m.

This past December, the Unionville High School (UHS) Winter Choir Concert featured a riveting piece, Sanctus: London by Grammy Award-winning choral composer Ola Gjeilo. A reverent silence fell over the crowd as the magnificent student chorale ensemble performed the work with brilliance and emotion.

Jason Throne, UHS’s Vocal Music Director, was so moved by the performance that he decided to send Gjeilo a video recording. Much to Throne’s pleasant surprise, Gjeilo responded to his email and praised the UHS students’ skill level and composure and offered to join the group onstage at their upcoming spring concert featuring many of his works.

“I almost fell out of my chair when Gjeilo offered to attend our spring performance,” Throne said. “He will rehearse with the students and accompany them onstage playing piano. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students to work with a composer of his caliber.”

Ola Gjeilo was born in Norway in 1978 and moved to the United States in 2001 to begin his composition studies at the Julliard School in New York City.

Ola’s concert works are performed all over the world and his debut recording as a pianist-composer, the lyrical crossover album, Stone Rose, was followed by its 2012 sequel, Piano Improvisations. Many of Ola’s choral works are featured on Phoenix Chorale’s Grammy Award-winning bestselling Northern Lights album, which is devoted entirely to his music for choir.

A full-time concert music composer, Ola is also very interested in film and his music often draws inspiration from movies and cinematic music. He currently lives in New York City with his wife Laura.

WHEN AND WHERE: Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 7 p.m., Unionville High School, 750 Unionville Rd. (PA Route 82), Kennett Square, PA, 19348-1531. Admission is Free.

MORE INFORMATION: The UHS Winter Choir Concert performance of Sanctus: London may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp2DIA5MZ0c Visit Ola Gjeilo’s website https://www.olagjello.com