A few weeks ago, 183 choirs performed all over the Czech Republic to raise money for a new UNICEF initiative supporting newborns in the poorest parts of the world. One of them was the NYU Prague Vocal Ensemble.
NYU Prague music students, led by Professor Marek Valášek, partnered with SMIX, an award-winning Czech a capella choir. The two groups sang in the Baroque Mirror Hall of the Klementinum National Library, a beautiful, prestigious venue in the heart of Old Town Prague and a sponsor of the event.
The project was initiated by NYU Prague staff member Týna Čermáková who is also a founding member of SMIX. “The NYU vocal ensemble has always wanted more singing opportunities, and I thought this benefit was a good opportunity to bring them together with my choir. We could all be part of nationwide event which helps other people through music and is connected to an organization that we all know.“
SMIX kicked off the concert with several 17th century songs conducted by their choirmaster Tomáš Votava. The NYU Prague Vocal Ensemble, led by Valášek, followed with a Baroque piece (composed by Giuseppe Pitoni) and then a more familiar Gerschwin song. The concert climaxed when the two choirs came together and performed Evening Rise, a traditional song said to have Native American origins.
“The NYU vocal ensemble aren’t choral singers, but many of them are training to be professional musicians; SMIX singers aren’t professionals but we have a lot of experience with choral singing,” explained Čermáková. “The challenge for us was to figure out how to put the unique voices of the NYU students together with our choir.” The NYU students sang the solos, and SMIX led the choral parts. “I think that everyone was surprised by the concert – in a good way,“ said Čermáková. “Much of the audience was there because of SMIX, and others were connected to NYU – and I think many were surprised and impressed by the second group.”
The money that was raised went to a new UNICEF program called Dobrý start do života (A good start to life) which was started by the Czech actress Jitka Čvančarová. The goal of the program is to raise money to develop infant care in hospitals in many of the poorest countries around the world, protecting newborns from contracting diseases that are easily preventable.
Both of the conductors were enthusiastic about the partnership, as were the performers. We hope to find ways to continue to bring our students together with local musicians, giving them performing opportunities and giving Prague audiences the opportunity to hear them.