LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville Cardinal Singers, recently ranked number one in the world, will pack their bags again this month to perform at the first U.S./Cuba Summit on Choral Music in Havana, Cuba.
The student singers will represent the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) at the May 26-31 summit. The organization is one of the collaborators for the event.
The summit will be a cross-cultural exchange of U.S. and Cuban composers, directors and students that showcases the distinct choral music styles of Cuban tradition and American genres.
The 33-student ensemble is the only performing group from the U.S. at the event and will take part in the opening and closing sessions. School of Music professor Kent Hatteberg directs the group.
According the Hatteberg, the students will tour Havana and nearby areas in addition to performing at the summit’s gala concert with Cuban choirs.
“Although the group has had the opportunity to perform and experience cultures in Europe and Asia, most students are unaware of what life is really like in Cuba, only 90 miles or so away,” Hatteberg said. “They will have the opportunity to witness first-hand the Cuban culture, the fabulous Cuban choral tradition, the difficulty of life for Cubans and better understand the political climate of U.S/Cuban relations.”