They are obviously dedicated musicians who enjoy working together. I especially enjoyed the variety of music they performed, each stylistically appropriate. It was refreshing to hear how easily the singers could adjust their tone to the style, and how equally comfortable they were singing vocal jazz or a contemporary motet. They sing sensitively and expressively with notable attention to text and to tuning. Musica! comprises such strong individual singers, yet in the group, no one oversings; rather, each listens carefully so that balance and blend of tone are well matched. What a good lesson to the many conductors and singers in the audience tonight!
Hilary ApfelstadtProfessor and Director of Choral Activities, The Ohio State University
National President, The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
The group sang everything from art music and African-American spirituals to vocal jazz and show tunes in a most professional manner. In addition to the high level of musicality, what was particularly striking about the performance was the beauty of tone and the fine blending of voices. Such high quality is not necessarily the norm for adult ensembles of this sort. The group ought to be heard by many.
Mark MunsonAssociate Professor of Music
President, Ohio Choral Directors Association
“They sing everything from renaissance and traditional ballads to art songs, jazz and modern compositions. They can sing a cappella, even close harmony, which is the ultimate test. All are solo caliber, and the ensemble regroups in different combinations for different pieces. Several are instrumentalists and can double in that capacity-not even Quink is so versatile!
This is not an operatic style of singing; the voices are natural and the blend is rich and intimate. You have to be friends to sing like that, and members of the ensemble say it’s “like a family.” … Go to Musica! on Sunday to see how rewarding choral music can be.”
CITY PAPER
Dec. 12-18-2002
“Shenandoah” is one of those traditional numbers that always tugs at the heart strings. Musica!’s rendition was even more beautiful than I could imagine.
Musica! is composed of many singers who are of professional level. While they volunteer to sing with Musica!, most also sing in churches, choruses, Opera Funatics and Dayton Opera chorus. Their sheer love of singing is evident in every note. Hearing Musica! is like dining on the creations of a great chef. With great food, one can taste every ingredient and yet the blend reflects the freshness of the complete dish. Their panorama of voices makes familiar and even hackneyed songs sparkle. There is no doubt that the singers of Musica! were having fun. The spontaneous standing ovation was proof that the audience had a ball as well.
Burt SaidelThe Oakwood Register
September 2001
Thanks again for the collaboration with you and the members of Musica! and students from UD in Dayton Opera’s AIDA. The addition of your voices certainly helped to put the “grand” in that grandest of opera scenes.
Tom Bankston, Artistic DirectorDayton Opera
It was a varied program. There is something for everybody…They are so well-trained-it’s just a joy to listen to them. They produce some fantastic sounds!
Bruce George, President & FounderTroy Mayors’ Concert, Inc.
Your concert this afternoon was extraordinary! For a cappella singing in Dayton, I believe you have the laurel. I was immersed in such rich tones and harmonics that there are no works to describe the experience!
Your singing this afternoon was exquisite, controlled, rich, and subtle. You gave each tone its due and all tones were great: the religious, the boogey, the spirituals, the Shakespearean settings, the French, the Impressionistic, etc.
Enrique RomagueraDepartment of Languages
University of Dayton