VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSU) – The Valley City State University music department is hosting a free public seminar titled “Spiritual and Gospel Choral Techniques” during the Viking Voice Festival on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The Viking Voice Festival brings together talented vocalists from area high schools for two days of workshops and lessons. One of the guest clinicians, Dr. Diane White-Clayton, is presenting the free public seminar on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. inside the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts. Members of the community are invited to attend.

White-Clayton, affectionately known at Dr. Dee, is currently a music faculty at UCLA. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in music composition from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She travels extensively as an artist, conductor and clinician, and her choral compositions have been performed across the globe.

The Viking Voice Festival also includes two public concerts. Two of White-Clayton’s works will be featured in Friday’s concert, which includes performances by the VCSU Concert Choir, VCSU Opera Ensemble, Jamestown Community Women’s Choir, and soloists Heather Hjelle, Dr. Stephen Cunningham, and Heather Aune. Friday’s concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

The Viking Voice Festival concludes Saturday with a 3 p.m. concert that features festival participants performing solos and ensembles.

Feature photo: Dr. Diane White-Clayton (Photo Credit: UCLA School of Music)