"Working with [Dr. Lynch] is always a learning experience for me. She is a treasure,” said Thomas. - Staff Writer / Kacie Scibilia
Rowan University’s three choirs joined forces on stage in commanding performances on Saturday, April 12, in Pfleeger Hall. Rowan’s Chorus, Concert Choir, and Voces Chamber Ensemble performed in front of a packed house.
The Rowan University Choir took the stage first, conducted by Dr. Lorraine Lynch and accompanied by notable pianist and sophomore Vitalii Khairutdinov. Lynch—whose credentials include being a finalist for the Princeton Distinguished Secondary School Teaching Award, the Governor’s Teacher of the Year Award, and one of 12 choral directors across the United States featured in Choral Directors Magazine under Choral Directors of the Year.
The choir’s repertoire included Schubert’s “Gloria” from Mass in G, D. 167, one of his three missae breves, written in 1815; Tartell and Jasperse’s “Stand Up and Make a Change,” falling under the categories of spiritual, secular, pop and inspirational music, featuring soloists Elizabeth Giordano, Princesstiana Johnson, Jordan Mason, Hannah Potratz, and David Toland; and Verdi’s “Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves” from Nabucco, sung with perfect Italian pronunciation.
The choir exited the stage, and the Rowan University Concert Choir entered. Their signature piece, “O Fortuna,” reprised from Carmina Burana, was received just as well on Saturday as it had been on March 28.
The next piece, “Locus Iste,” by Bruckner, was composed in 1869 and was initially intended to be played during the dedication ceremony of the New Cathedral’s votive chapel in Linz, Austria.
Their closing piece was Haydn’s “Insanae et Vanae Curae,” or ” Insane and Stupid Worries,” a sacred motet. A motet is a piece composed from a sacred text for multiple voices. The chorus sang the piece effortlessly, smoothly navigating the highs and lows. Voces then took the helm, performing Caroline Shaw’s “And the Swallow,” with the lyrics from Psalm 84.
“[This song was] born over [Shaw’s] contemplation over the Syrian refugee crisis…within the piece, you will hear significant longing…and at the very end, a gentle autumn rain,” said Dr. Christopher Thomas, Director of Choral Activities.
They continued to perform a song aptly titled “Song,” composed from the eponymous poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, as noted in the program. It may be a short poem, but its impact is immense. According to poemanalysis.com, the poem’s central message is to avoid the world’s problems by simply choosing to stay home, thus promoting the advantages of domesticity. Even more remarkable is that Rowan University’s own John Hoey wrote the song; this performance marked the world premiere of the piece.
Following that, two songs sprang from poems, one by Wendell Berry and the other by Barbara Crooker.
“It takes time to live in a poem and feel the chords the composer constructed,” said Dr. Thomas.
Their final two pieces were African American Spirituals adapted for choral performance, written by H.T. Burleigh and Moses Hogan, arranged for chorus by Albert Blackwell.
“I was looking for a variety of music that was different from [Carmina Burana and Chanticleer] to be sure we had some balance of old and new,” said Dr. Thomas.
Finally, the University Chorus and Concert Choir joined forces for the better to perform Rollo Dilworth’s magnum opus “United in Purpose.” Maya Angelou penned the words, and Dr. Thomas conducted it with Lynch on the piano.
“Working with [Dr. Lynch] is always a learning experience for me. She is a treasure,” said Dr. Thomas.
The choirs received enthusiastic applause and cheers, resulting in a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.
After the show, Cornell McQueen, a 62-year-old audience member, shared his feelings about the night’s program.
“I thought it was absolutely wonderful. It was off the chain. It was great,” said McQueen.
Taylor McQueen, a 20-year-old sophomore majoring in political science with a minor in music and voice, was one of the evening’s performers and, by pure coincidence, the daughter of Cornell McQueen.
“It was beautiful. I’m so appreciative for being a part of it, and just…the most important part of it for me [are] the moments…those moments of sound for perfection. It was satisfying,” said McQueen.
“[Singing in the concert] was awesome. The whole experience was awesome. And working with Dr. Thomas is wonderful,” said Amber Miller, a 21-year-old senior majoring in vocal performance and music education.
Dr. Thomas has some attachment to his students, and several of his choral members are seniors graduating this May. Given the strict standards required to join the choirs, it could impact Thomas’s and Lynch’s vocal groups—not irreparably, but at least for the time being.
“It’s always just so terrifying to see your most incredible people leave you. This is an important group…it’s so incredible when students come in, and they’re nervous, finding their way, and also so eager to learn. Then there’s a moment for every single one of them where they finally figure out how to experience life, and then, shortly thereafter, they become our teachers,” said Dr. Thomas.
“I wasn’t expecting it to go as well as it did, to be frank,” said Dr. Thomas. “[They performed in] Carmina two weeks ago, and many students were in the opera last week. They’re busy and tired. But something special happened Saturday night. I went home and felt connected to what we had done in an almost spiritual way. It’s a really special group of students.”
The next choral performance will be with Grammy-winning vocal group Chanticleer on April 26 at 7:30 p.m. in Pfleeger Hall.
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