Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 attacks, Rice Chorale will mark the anniversary the way it has every year since 2002: by pausing to sing.
Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music will present “In Memoriam: 9/11/2001” at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 in the Edythe Bates Old Recital Hall and Grand Organ. Thomas Jaber, professor of music, director of choral ensembles and vocal coach, will conduct Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, Op. 9 with organist Katherine Jolliff.
Jaber founded the tradition in 2002 when approximately 120 singers gathered in Stude Concert Hall to perform Mozart’s Requiem at the moment the first plane struck the World Trade Center, joining a worldwide “rolling requiem.”
“Since then, Rice Chorale and I have been honored to stop and remember those whose lives were lost on that fateful day in New York City, the Pennsylvania countryside and Washington, D.C.,” Jaber said, adding that they have sung requiem settings by Mozart, Brahms, Fauré, Rutter and Duruflé, among others.
The observance, Jaber said, has grown to encompass all those lost to violence or natural causes.
“We also stop to think of one another and what a world of peace might be,” Jaber said. “We truly look forward to that day. And we are grateful for the beautiful music that helps our spirits along the way.”
The Chorale draws singers from across the university and the Houston community.
Members of the media are invited to attend the Sept. 11 performance. To RSVP, please reply to this email or contact Chris Stipes.