Men in Blaque December 4, 2011

Start your celebration of the Christmas season with music by the Men in Blaque.

Pre-concert music will be performed by Bakersfield College Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Ronald Kean.

Men in Blaque was organized in 1997 by Joseph Huszti, Professor of Music at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). The members come from many professions and backgrounds including computer experts, dancers, business owners, clergy, schoolteachers and undergraduate musicians.

Dressed primarily in black, but often incorporating energetic dances or ingenious props, the group engages audiences with performances that encompass a wide spectrum of quality sacred and secular music.

The Men in Blaque is an eclectic vocal ensemble performing literature from many eras and in different musical styles. They accepted an unprecedented invitation (festival rules preclude an ensemble from participating more than one time) by the Alava Festival to perform in Spain and presented a memorable concert on September 11, 2001. The Men in Blaque were one of seven international choral ensembles invited to Puebla, Mexico in 2003 to present concerts at the Festival Coro Mundo. The inaugural Daegu International Choral Festival (Korea) invited the Men in Blaque to represent the United States in 2004 along with six international chamber choirs. They participated in the 2006 World Choral Games in Xiamen, China and won two silver medals and a gold diploma for winning their division. Three CD recordings, I Wonder As I Wander, Live in Spain and Many Moods have been produced.

The Men in Blaque were awarded 3 gold medals and a championship trophy July 18, 2010 at the 6th World Choir games in Shaoxing, China. The men's singing ensemble, based at UC Irvine, traveled to China to compete in the worlds largest choir competition. There were over 25,000 singers participating.

Conducted by Joseph Huszti, the Men in Blaque won gold medals in Men's Chamber Ensemble, Folk Song, and Musica Contemporary.

As one of the championship choirs, they were invited to sing at the final concert before an audience of over 8,000.

Welcome Joseph Huszti back to Bakersfield. In 1965 the Bakersfield College Choir, under Huszti's direction, won first prize in the International Musical Eisteddfod at Llangollen, Wales. This winning award was the first by an American choir in the Adult Mixed Choir Division (Ordo I) and brought the coveted International Trophy to the United States. President Lyndon B. Johnson held a special White House press conference upon the choirs’ return to the United States. Pope Paul VI presented Huszti the Ecumenical Medal, both the choir and he were afforded a private audience by His Eminence.

Call (661) 589-2478 for information.

Official Website: http://www.bakersfieldcca.org