Eric Whitacre: Virtual Youth Choir

Eric Whitacre is a current American composer who despite his youth, has experienced much success. The Los Angeles Times describes his works as having “Electric, chilling harmonies; works of unearthly beauty, and imagination.”(Hyperion) Whitacre is the founder of Virtual Choir and has composed for many different performance groups such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, The Tallis Scholars, The King Singers and the Minnesota Orchestra. (Eric Whitacre) In his short career, Whitacre has achieved many prestigious awards and has established himself as one of the greatest composers of modern day. Eric Whitacre, a Grammy award winning composer, was born January 2, 1970 in Reno Nevada. (Composer) (Hyperion) When he was young, Whitacre participated in marching band, and a techno band, and hoped to one day become a rock star. After he graduated high school, Whitacre attended the University of Nevada where he was very inspired by Mozart’s Requiem. It was at this university where he began his full music training while

This choir launched with 2292 young singers from 80 countries. Virtual Youth Choir asks singers under the age of 18 to film themselves and like Virtual Choir, the videos are synchronized to form one video. The film premiered at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The Virtual Youth Choir combined with the National Youth Choir of Scotland and performed in front of a 40,000 person audience. The choir performed a special arrangement from Whitacre’s musical Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings, to the song “What If.” The choir combined with the children’s organization, UNICEF to make the film a success. Virtual Youth Choir has provided a unique opportunity to young singers around the globe. Singers from across the globe can join together and make beautiful music even though they might live thousands of miles apart. (About the Virtual Youth)(Music