LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On the court, on the field and on the stage, 2013 has been a winning year for the University of Louisville, and the Cardinal Singers are the latest student group to extend this year’s winning tradition.
The Cardinal Singers were named best choir at the June 11-17 Yeosu International Choir Competition in Yeosu, South Korea, and went on to earn four gold awards, plus a top prize overall, at the June 19-23 International Hoi An Choir Competition in Vietnam.
“Kent Hatteberg and the Cardinal Singers are examples of the extraordinary faculty and talented students we have at the University of Louisville,” President James Ramsey said. “Their victories at international competitions are impressive and set the standard for other competitors at UofL.”
The 33- member group, directed by Kent Hatteberg who earned the best conductor award at the South Korean competition, is ranked number two in in the world by Interkultur/Musica Mundi.
The singers competed against 63 choirs from around the world in Yeosu placing first in sacred music and mixed choir, second in pop/jazz and spiritual/folk/gospel categories and earning the grand prix award for best choir overall.
In Hoi An, UofL earned the highest awards (gold) for mixed choir, folklore and sacred music and was named the overall winner. UofL is the first American choir to participate in the Vietnamese competition, now in its third year.
The Cardinal Singers returned to Louisville today and were greeted at Louisville International Airport by friends, family and UofL colleagues.