The California Lutheran University Choir will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 18, before it leaves for a concert tour of Italy.

The choir will perform with the CLU Women’s Chorale at the “Bon Voyage Concert” in Samuelson Chapel.
In preparation for its Italian tour, the CLU Choir will perform Italian and American music. Featured works include a setting of “The Lord’s Prayer” by Italian master Giuseppe Verdi, and Julian Anderson’s “Beautiful Valley of Eden” from “Four American Choruses” for four choirs and four conductors.

The concert will also feature the world-premiere performance of “Three Songs for Benedict,” which was composed by CLU music professor Mark Spraggins. The show will close with folk songs and rousing spirituals.

Wyant Morton, chair of the music department and director of choral and vocal activities, will conduct.

The 80-voice CLU Choir will present concerts in Italy from May 16 through 25. The singers will perform at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican in Rome and at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Other concert stops include Verona, Florence and Assisi.

This will be the choir’s first concert tour of Italy. It has previously performed in Sweden, Norway and England and throughout the United States.

The CLU Choir is the premiere choral ensemble at CLU. The choir has earned a reputation for its commitment to performing the finest in choral literature from all eras in their original languages. While dedicated to performing works that represent the university's Lutheran heritage, the choir also embraces innovative new music and multicultural pieces.

Donations will be accepted.

Samuelson Chapel is located off of Campus Drive south of Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks. Additional parking is available in the lot at the corner of Olsen and Mountclef Boulevard.

For more information, call the Music Department at (805) 493-3306 or visit http://www.callutheran.edu/music .