SWCC Community Chorus and Southwest VA Children's Choir in Concert

Community Chorus The Music Program of Southwest Virginia Community College is proud to present a “Bon Voyage Choral Celebration Concert” on Monday, May 14, 2012, at 7 p.m. The concert will feature two choral groups who are about to embark on separate tours to exciting out-of-town venues after this presentation for the “home-town” audience.

The SWCC Community Chorus, singing by invitation at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin along with other venues in New York City, departs on May 24 for a three-day choral tour.

The Southwest Virginia Children’s Choir leaves for Atlanta on June 8 to sing by invitation at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, and at Turner Field where they will sing the National Anthems of the U.S. and Canada for an Atlanta Braves game.

At the May 14 concert, these two groups will present selections from their respective tour concerts. Both choirs are under the conductorship of Dr. Joseph Trivette, SWCC’s Albert Endowed Chair of Music. Trivette states “These are exciting times! I am extremely proud of these two ensembles and the accomplishment represented by their invitations to sing at such prestigious venues. A year ago, the Community Chorus sang at the National Cathedral in Washington, and the Children’s Choir sang at Duke Chapel. These performances resulted in invitations to New York and Atlanta, respectively, for the two choirs. This achievement speaks well for our Music Program and our area, and extends our name and reputation even farther beyond Southwest Virginia. We are proud to represent this region in nationally-acclaimed venues.”

Selections by the Children’s Choir will include National Anthems in preparation for their Major League ballpark debut, as well as spirituals, sacred anthems, and “fun” pieces. The exciting Althouse composition Jubilate Deo and the Gallina arrangement of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot will highlight the choir’s ability to effectively present contrasting styles. An original Trivette arrangement of Psalm 138 and a Hopson version of the familiar Shaker tune Simple Gifts are among other selections.

The Children’s Choir is a collaborative effort by SWCC and area school systems, co-founded by Mrs. Wrenda Fuller and coordinated by Mrs. Rebecca Sykes. Their portion of the concert will be accompanied by SWCC Music Majors John Sharpe on piano, Kelsey Sykes on trumpet, and Colby Elswick on bass, with Jared Lowe on horn.

The SWCC Community Chorus will feature a number of a cappella pieces in anticipation of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral concert. They range from the 16th century If Ye Love Me by Tallis to an exciting Moses Hogan spiritual I’m Gonna Sing ‘Til the Spirit Moves in my Heart. Also included are Lauridson’s O Nata Lux , which has been called a showcase of a cappella choral singing, and the equally moving Psalm 23 by Basler. Andre Thomas’s I Hear America Singing, and the rousing Wilhousky arrangement of Battle Hymn of the Republic are crowd-pleasers that will highlight this program as well as the Chorus’s Memorial Day concerts.

Accompanying the Community Chorus are Casey Whaley on organ, Brent Bingham on trumpet, and Drew Leslie on trombone. These visiting musicians are professionals who will impressively enhance the sounds of an 80-voice Chorus which, according to Trivette, “has grown not only in number but also in quality and professional sound, so that they are truly the best Chorus I have conducted over the past 12 years.”

The concert will be held in the Mary White Lawson Auditorium of King Community Center. Admission at the door is $3.00 per person.