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Alum-led choir shines in national spotlight

Gloriana, a 24-voice professional choir conducted and founded by Deuane ’75 and Karen (McClellan) Kuenzi ’74, will be part of a monumental recording next May. Gloriana will record the choral portion of the new composition “Symphony of Tears,” written to commemorate the 1915 genocide of the Armenians by the Turks. While the singers in Gloriana are from around the country, their office is based in Lakewood, Wash.

The work was written by internationally recognized composer Jeff Manookian, who is of Armenian descent. The recording will be conducted by world renowned Maestro Loris Tjeknovarian of the Vienna Philharmonic. The orchestra for the recording will be the Orchestra of St. Gregory, one of the finest professional orchestras in Europe.

Recording is tentatively scheduled for St. John’s Cathedral in New York City, known for its magnificent acoustics.

Gloriana was selected after Maestro Tjeknovarian heard a performance by the choir in Lincoln Center several months ago. He agreed to do the recording only if Gloriana would take part.

The choir’s most memorable experiences have been appearing on the CBS show “Touched By An Angel,” and recording a CD to benefit cancer research, “Songs of America,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Gloriana is scheduled to perform on a two-hour Christmas special to be aired on Christmas Eve 2001, in which Karen Kuenzi will have a minor role. Other upcoming projects include performances in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. Deuane will conduct the Sydney Orchestra and Chorus (Australia) in the Sydney Opera House in 2003.