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Choral Groups to Present Concerts April 27 and 29

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Posted on Friday, April 20, 2012

Westminster College choral groups will present spring concerts Friday, April 27, and Sunday, April 29, in Wallace Memorial Chapel.  Both are free and open to the public.

The Women's Chorus and Men's Chorus will present their program Friday at 7:30 p.m.  The choirs are under the direction of Dr. Robin Lind, associate professor of music and director of choral activities, with assistance from William Ambert, adjunct music faculty.  Anthony Pezzelle is accompanist for the Women's Chorus and Daniel Goffus accompanies the Men's Chorus.

The Women's Chorus will perform: B. Baker's arrangement of "Thou My Everlasting Portion" by Donald Vails, featuring soprano soloist Alexis Musgrove; Michael Mendoza's "Sing a New Song;" Kirby Shaw's arrangement of "Without a Song;" Ysaye M. Barnwell's "On Children" with text by Kahlil Gibran; Donald Patriquin's arrangement of a Czech folk song, featuring Dr. Jason Howard, visiting assistant professor of music, on cello and music education major John Stumpff on clarinet; and Feodosiy Rubtsov's arrangement of a Russian folk song, featuring a quartet of soprano Sarah Brooks, second soprano Hannah Jaskiewicz, and second altos Christina Basso and Rachael Wetzel.

Selections for the Men's Chorus include: Jamey Ray's arrangement of the traditional spiritual "Were You There?;" Mark Sirett's arrangement of a Quebec folk song; John Leavitt's arrangement of Claude-Michel Schönberg's "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables, featuring baritone soloist Gerrick Dickson; Richard Nance's "When I Was One and Twenty" with text by A. E. Houseman; Joseph Martin's "The Quest Unending" with text by A. L. Tennyson; and Robert Sterling's arrangement of "If We Ever Needed the Lord Before" by Thomas Dorsey, featuring soprano soloist Rayna Brooks.

The concert will conclude with the combined choruses performing "The Ground" from Sunrise Mass by Ola Gjeilo and Daniel Hughes' arrangement of a South African folk song, featuring Caroline Reina on the djembe.

Sunday's concert at 3 p.m. will be presented by the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers under Lind's direction.  Accompaniment will be provided by College organist Kathryn Davison Miller, Daniel Goffus (Chamber Singers), and Jessica Kimbell (Concert Choir).

The Concert Choir will open the program with selections from Part II of Handel's The Messiah, featuring bass soloist Andrew McMurray, tenor soloist Gregory McClelland, and baritone soloist Goffus.

The Chamber Singers will present: Bruce Sled's "Kyrie;" Daniel Gawthrop's "Sing Me to Heaven;" John Ritter's arrangement of "Be Thou My Vision;" and Matthew Harris' "Shakespeare Songs."

The Concert Choir will close the concert with Kevin Riehle's "Without Love;" Kent Newbury's "Psalm 150;" René Clausen's arrangement of "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair," featuring Stumpff on clarinet; and Susan LaBarr's arrangement of "Fly" by Sara Groves, featuring soprano soloist Kathleen Bachtel.

Contact Lind at (724) 946-7278 or email for additional information.