On December 30th, 2023, composer Thomas LaVoy will lead a readthrough event of his work "A Child's Requiem" ten years after its 2013 premiere in Marquette, Michigan.
The seven-movement work for orchestra, SATB choir, children's chorus, and soprano solo was commissioned in 2013 by the Marquette Symphony Orchestra, with a libretto by Esther Margaret Ayers. The work marked the 100th anniversary of the Italian Hall disaster in Calumet, Michigan, which tragically ended the lives of 73 people, mostly children. The music frames the disaster as a central focus but does more than linger on tragedy.
Watch the performance from its December 14th, 2013 premiere:
Kurt spoke with Thomas in our studios about the process of composing "A Child's Requiem:"
Kurt also spoke with GlenEllen Lehmberg, one of the original Marquette Senior High School Chorale members who sang in the 2013 premiere:
Kurt continued his conversation with Thomas LaVoy regarding the tenth-anniversary readthrough event on December 30th:
All are welcome to join an explorative readthrough of "A Child's Requiem" on Saturday, December 30th, 2023 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Marquette from 2 to 5 p.m. For those who wish to sing along or study the score, music scores are available at thomaslavoy.com/scores/requiem.
For more information about the readthrough, visit Thomas LaVoy's website.
