FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dann Hayes, Director of Media Relations, 641-269-4834

January 17, 2001

Baroque Orchestra of Iowa to perform in Des Moines and Grinnell

GRINNELL, Iowa - The Baroque Orchestra of Iowa, the only professional period-instrument group in the state, will perform Handel's Acis and Galatea at two shows in February.

On Feb.16, at 7:30 p.m. the orchestra will perform at First Christian Church, 2500 University Avenue, Des Moines, and on Feb. 17, at 2 p.m., they will perform at Sebring-Lewis Hall, Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, Grinnell College, Grinnell.

Considered one of Handel's most successful pieces, "Acis and Galatea is a tuneful, entertaining work for orchestra, soloists, and choir," said John Rommereim, associate professor of music and the founder of the Baroque Orchestra of Iowa. "Acis and Galatea is one of Handel's most successful pieces. It was as popular as Messiah in Handel's day."

The core of the ensemble is from Iowa, but also includes early music specialists from Minneapolis; Pittsburgh; St. Louis; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; and Ann Arbor, Mich.

The orchestra, founded in 1991, will feature Susan Judy singing the role of Galatea. Judy is a soprano from Los Angeles who has performed with many of the country's finest early music groups. Thomas Meglioranza, a Grinnell College graduate and winner of the Olga Koussevitsky competition in voice, will sing the role of Polyphemus. Maria Jette, a well-known soprano from Minneapolis, will sing the role of Damon and Mark Mowry, Indianapolis, will sing the role of Acis.

The chorus for this concert, the Grinnell Singers, is a select student ensemble from Grinnell College. The Grinnell Singers' most recent honor was to receive an invitation to perform at the 2002 regional convention of the American Choral Directors Association. This concert is supported with grants from the Iowa Arts Council, the Cowles Foundation, and the Kurd Bequest Fund of Grinnell College.

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