As the school year winds down, you may have noticed an increase in opportunities to see your friends demonstrate their hard work and talent in the field of music. Well, there is another opportunity coming up. The Women’s Choir, directed by Cindy Moeller, is performing on Friday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel. As the name suggests, this choir is full of women who will be the only featured ensemble with a few soloists and honored guests to deliver excellent music. There you can see fellow classmates and peers perform a variety of songs for less than an hour. Moeller and the choir have prepared the entire semester to perform these songs on Friday.
The program will start with two Latin pieces, “Salmo 150” by Ernani Aguiar and “Os Justi” by Eleanor Daley, that pull lyrics from the book of Psalms. “Salmo 150” is the biblical text of Psalm 150 and “Os Justi” is from Psalm 37: 30-31.
Following those songs is a Spanish song called “Nada te turbe” by Joan Szymko and lyrics by Saint Teresa of Avila. This piece is referred to by sophomore choir member Anneka Sterk as “a very active hug.” The song’s syncopated beat and clashing harmonies suggest to the audience to not be frightened because God never changes and whoever is in God never lacks in anything. This song is accompanied by cellist professor Marian Casey who also conducts the orchestra on campus. All three of these songs are sung a Cappella. When asked for her take on these songs, sophomore choir member Ashlee Sammons stated that “it is cool that we get to sing a variety of languages and embrace it and cry.”
Further in the program, other soloists and accompanists join the Women’s Choir. “Psalm 23,” by Z. Randall Stroope, features band members Clare Struck on the flute and Shayler Van Gelder on the oboe and Women’s Choir member Lauren Fisk on the piano. Fisk is the designated pianist for this semester for Women’s Choir and will accompany several other songs in the concert.
After “Psalm 23” is “Worthy to be Praised” by Byron J. Smith. What is a concert by Moeller without a gospel piece. “Worthy to be Praised” features two vocal soloists, freshman alto Rachel Smith Luna and sophomore soprano Jenna Kock. Both soloists will be singing a verse declaring glory, honor and adoration to God who is worthy to be praised.
The choir will wrap up the concert with a gospel rendition of “Will the Circle be Unbroken,” music by Appalachian and text by Cathy Winter, Betsy Rose and Marcia Taylor. The song will begin with a trio composed of freshman soprano Madi Rozeboom, Kock and junior alto Kaylee Auch. This song ends the concert on the figurative note of turmoil on the earth with a forward looking anticipation to the “better home awaiting in the sky.”
The Women’s Choir concert is a great chance to appreciate different musical expressions of praise and adoration to God. The theme of the night stresses the things in life that are beautiful and make life tolerable such as the Lord’s provision, mercy, goodness and everlasting presence. Moeller commented on the theme and wants people to “come and receive the uplifting messages the songs convey.” With the semester coming to an end, this is the last chance to see this group of women perform uplifting music, that glorifies God.
