Kodiak Choral Students to Share Stage with Grammy Winner

Diana Gish/KMXT

When Eileen Ivers hits the stage of the Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium tonight, a group of Kodiak students will be right there with her.

KMXT’s Diana Gish has the story:

If you ask choral director Amy Brown if her students have been given a great opportunity her answer is emphatic.

— (Music Students 1"Oh yes they … it is exciting.")

The group of choral students is singing back-up to Ivers and her band "Immigrant Soul." Christmas is the theme of tonight’s concert but, as Brown says, the songs are not the standard holiday fare.

— (Music Students 2 "One is a … ever heard before.")

The collaboration began with a request that Ivers made to Kodiak Arts Council director Tom Quass.

She told Quass that she’d love to work with local students as part of her appearance in Kodiak. Her performance usually highlights local Irish dancers but with no dance group available Quass turned to Brown. The choral director jumped at the chance. Then Brown saw the music which. keep in mind, was written by a nine-time all-Ireland fiddling champion and Grammy winning artist. It made her pause a bit, wondering how they’d get through it. Then Ivers sent Brown a practice recording:

— (Music Students 3 "and that CD… but yeah.")

Brown said it’s the kind of opportunity that’s a dream come true for a teacher.

— (Music Students 4 "Oh yes, you … to be amazing.")

While Ivers music is rooted in the Irish tradition, it expands out from that base and covers a diverse range of world music.

— (Music Students 5 "But oh … really see that.")

And now her students are experiencing it all first hand.

— (Music Students 6 "Some mornings … a better classroom.")

Eileen Ivers, Immigrant Soul, and Brown’s group of Kodiak choral students will perform tonight at 7 p.m. at the Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium as part of the Kodiak Arts Council’s performing arts series. Tickets are available at the door and at The Artist Eye.