| The choir rehearsing for the “America the Beautiful.” Photo courtesy of @mcneesechoirs |
| By David Mbagwu The Poke Press The McNeese Choir took the stage at Tritico Theatre on Thursday evening, presenting an array of musical pieces that showcased the group’s vocal talent and brought different stories and emotions to life. One of the pieces that stood out to a member of the McNeese Choir, Ademy Arilesere was “Soon and Very Soon,” written by Andraé Crouch and arranged for mixed choir with piano accompaniment. Reflecting on his experience performing for the audience, Ademy described how the music connected him to the stories behind the songs. “It was an amazing experience performing our pieces to the audience. The words came alive, and I felt like I was immersed in their story,” Ademy said. Another selection featured during the evening was “A Red, Red Rose,” part of Four Robert Burns Ballads, a collection of works for mixed voices and piano. The piece added to the variety of the program, which brought together musical selections from different traditions. The choir also performed “Steal Away,” a traditional spiritual arranged by Moses Hogan. During the performance, Ademy delivered one of three solo vocal parts within the song. As a traditional spiritual, “Steal Away” also drew on a rich musical tradition often associated with themes of faith, hope and perseverance. The evening concluded with “An American Hymn,” a setting of “America the Beautiful,” featuring piano accompaniment, with lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates and music by Samuel A. Ward. The piece served as a tribute to the 250th anniversary of American independence. In a fitting finale, the choir invited the audience to rise and join in singing the familiar patriotic song, with performers and audience members singing together in unison, the closing piece transformed the final moments of the evening into a shared musical experience. |
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