Former students to participate in Dr. David Evans tribute concert
Dr. David Evans
Former Vocal and Choral students of Emeritus Professor David Evans have been invited to join the Chamber and College Choirs of SUNY Fredonia in a tribute concert to Dr. Evans on Thursday, May 5, at 8 p.m. in King Concert Hall.
The final selection, “Os Justi,” by Anton Bruckner, one of Evans’ favorites, will be performed as a tribute to Evans and those alumni will be invited to join in and sing with the choirs. Senior Adjunct Lecturer Laurie Tramuta, a Voice teacher and former student of Evans, will also present a tribute.
Evans had a major impact on many students in the Voice and Choral areas over his 23 years at Fredonia, said School of Music Interim Director Daniel Ihasz. Evans chaired both areas, was an interim co-director of the School of Music and also interviewed and ultimately appointed Mr. Ihasz to the Voice faculty 30 years ago.
When asked by Evans how he perceived the importance of choral ensemble requirements within the Voice performance curriculum, Ihasz answered by acknowledging how his major influences began in choral music in high school and continued in college with an amazing director, Robert Fountain. It turned out that Evans was a student at Oberlin College and Mr. Fountain was his choral director.
“David and I share a similar major musical and choral influence and this was clearly evident from the first College Choir concert I attended where the choral tone, colors, musical expressivity and even repertoire had a familiar quality,” Ihasz said. “David also served as my mentor and we ‘team taught’ a performance class, where I learned a great deal from his influence. I will be forever indebted to him!”
“Although David was a consummate performer, in his heart he was a teacher,” Ms. Tramuta. “He worked tirelessly with me until I believed I was a performer, which ultimately changed the trajectory of my career. I am forever in his debt.”
Evans joined the School of Music as an assistant professor in 1976 and served as chair of ensembles and of the Voice faculty before retiring in 1999. He passed away in 2021.
Admission to the concert is free.
