The Chamber Choir opens the concert with 鈥淥 Love,鈥� expressing 19th century Scottish poet Rev. George Matheson鈥檚 sense that love can lift the soul above sadness, just as one traces the rainbow through the rain. The Chamber Choir sings a new melodic setting by composer Elaine Hagenberg, which reinforces the soaring quality of the timeless hymn.

Composer Rollo Dillworth based 鈥淲hen Dreams Take Flight鈥� on renowned 19th century African-American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar鈥檚 鈥淒reams,鈥� which reminds us that as with flights of fancy, withering sadness also will pass away. The Chamber Choir鈥檚 performance features soprano Talia Schneider, a junior musical theatre major from Altamont, Ill., and tenor Corbin Doucette, a sophomore music major from Cabool, Mo.

The longing to escape from troubles that tinge many spirituals appears powerfully in 鈥淟et Me Fly,鈥� which opens the Concert Choir鈥檚 portion of the concert.聽 This arrangement by Robert DeCormier features baritone Kar鈥橫el Brewer, a senior music education major from St. Louis.

Kim Andr茅 Arnesen鈥檚 鈥淔light Song鈥� calls for collaboration as it is set to Welsh poet Euan Tait鈥檚 lyrical call to sing one鈥檚 own heart鈥檚 melody, together even in isolation. The conductor鈥檚 arms shape like wings to gather in each singer鈥檚 longing to fly towards others鈥� suffering and offer new life. 鈥淭he Boy Who Picked Up His Feet to Fly鈥� concludes the Concert Choir鈥檚 portion of the program and captures the sense of the times with optimistic whimsey. Composer Joshua Shank suggests that wishing to fly away can bring exhilarating joy but adds that in a time of danger, be careful what you wish for.

Songs of Flight is available on SoundCloud at:聽.

###

The concert will begin with the 60-voice Collegiate Choir singing a joyful, syncopated processional based on the ancient chant 鈥淰eni, Veni Emmanuel鈥� by Michael John Trotta, continue the rhythmic energy with 鈥淣o茅l Ayisyen,鈥� a carol from Haiti, and then showcase seasonal works of John Rutter, Eric Whitacre and Charles Ives.

The Chamber Choir will offer a wide contrast of styles, ranging from the 鈥淗odie Christus natus est鈥� of Heinrich Sch眉tz to the lovely Hugo Distler arrangement of 鈥淟o! How a Rose E鈥檈r Blooming鈥� and the more angular and syncopated 鈥淎ve Maria鈥� by Javier Busto.

The Concert Choir enters with its own processional to an arrangement of 鈥淥 Come, O Come, Emmanuel鈥� arranged with a completely different sense of time and grandeur. Capturing the rejoicing of the season with the Parker/Shaw arrangement of 鈥淐hrist was born on Christmas Day鈥� and 鈥淗allelujah, Christ is Born鈥� by Rosephanye Powell, the Concert Choir charges the tempo with Andr茅 J. Thomas鈥檚 鈥淩ockin鈥� Jerusalem鈥� before returning to the peace of the season in the Hughes/Loose 鈥淟ullaby for a King鈥� and ending with their traditional 鈥淧eace, Peace鈥� with candlelight 鈥淪ilent Night.鈥�

Scotty Allison conducts all the choral ensembles.

A brass quintet and saxophone quartet will provide instrumental interludes under the direction of Aren Van Houzen and Trent Hollinger respectively. A dessert reception in Merillat Chapel and Recital Hall will follow the concert, with light seasonal music provided by various instrumental ensembles.

Admission is free. The concert also will be streamed live on Culver-Stockton鈥檚 Facebook page.

###