FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Latvian choir to sing at Bates

LEWISTON, Maine -- Minjona, a 32-voice woman's choir from the University of Latvia in Riga, will perform at Bates College Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall. The public is invited to attend free of charge.

Visiting New England as part of an exchange with the Boston choir Sharing a New Song, Minjona will perform a cappella and accompanied by music in both traditional and Latvian folk dress. Founded in 1975, Minjona has been under the artistic direction of Romans Vanags since 1991. The choir has participated in several festivals and university competitions in Europe and has presented concerts in Byelorussia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Estonia.

In 1996, Minjona placed third in the IFAS university choir competition held in Pardubice, Czech Republic. Last summer, the group participated in the All Latvian Song and Dance Festival in Riga.