Grammy announcement interrupts Chanticleer performance
Released: February 24, 2003
A ringing cell phone interrupted the all-male vocal ensemble Chanticleer during their Sunday night performance at Irvin L.Young Auditorium at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Fortunately, the intrusion came not from the audience, but from the group’s musical director, Joseph Jennings, who was calling from Madison Square Garden in New York City to inform Chanticleer they had just won two Grammy awards.
A substitute Grammy ceremony was organized Monday morning by Music Chair Janet Barrett for the excited ensemble in the Light Recital Hall. Music students, teachers and others in the audience applauded after hearing “and the winner is… Chanticleer!” Then Oscar Meyer Weiner whistles were distributed to each of the 12 singers.
“Since you were not able to be in New York to accept your Grammy awards, we tried to come as close as possible,” Barrett jokingly told the group which has been described as “luxurious perfection.” Chanticleer member Philip Wilder responded that they were “excited to share our good news with all of you.” Another said their director had called several times during the evening, mentioning that the female country trio Dixie Chicks had offered their congratulations.
Chanticleer then performed several songs and answered questions from students as part of a guest artist class. Guest performers at UW-Whitewater are frequently invited to share their insights and experiences after a concert, play or other event.
Based in San Francisco, the full-time a capella group gives over 100 concerts a year and has recorded many CDs. Chanticleer won the Grammy awards for Classical Best Small Ensemble Performance and for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for Sir John Tavener’s piece Lamentations and Praises.
- Jane Provorse,provorsj@uww.edu
