This album is a stunning collection of modern works for choir, along with one Monteverdi work, performed beautifully by the University of Wisconsin Chamber Singers, conducted by Geoffrey Boers. The common thread that weaves all of these pieces together is the theme of light and the celestial world. The University of Washington Chamber Singers is a professional level choir consisting of graduate and advanced undergraduate music majors, as well as advanced musicians of majors from across the UW community. Established as the Madrigal Singers in the 1930's under the direction of composer Gerald Kechley, the group gained recognition through it's notable conductors Rodney Eichenberger and Joan Conlon. Acclaimed for it's vocal prowess and artistic expression, the choir focuses on performing challenging repertoire of all periods with particular emphasis on performing art music of our time. Under the direction of Geoffrey Boers, the group has gained a national and international reputation with performances at the Canadian National Music Festival, the national conventions of Orff Kodaly Society, GALA, and College Music Society, regional conventions of ACDA and MENC, as well as four international tours to the Baltic countries and to Hungary. Most recently, the choir returned to the Baltic to participate in the Latvian National Song Festival during the summer of 2013.