The Cameron University Concert Choir will present “Songs From Around the World,” on Thursday, October 19, at 7:30 p.m. The concert will take place at First Presbyterian Church, located at1302 SW A Avenue. Admission is free, although donations to the CU Music Scholarship fund are appreciated.
The concert will feature a variety of compositions from around the world, including England, Japan, Venezuela, Ireland and the United States. The students have learned a range of languages and styles in a short time.
“The members of the Concert Choir will be singing in English, Spanish and Japanese, and have learned an Irish blessing and an American spiritual for this concert,” says Dr. Christian Morren. “For students to have a well-rounded education, they need to be able to explore different cultures and experiences. This concert has challenged the students, and the music has helped them discover the similarities we have with one another. No matter where you are from, we all feel love, pain, and happiness. I hope the audience will learn something and enjoy the variety of pieces.”
The repertoire includes “Three New Madrigals” by Jay Althouse, which will be performed a cappella. Morren explains that the first madrigal is in a traditional style with a semi-chorus, the second is slower and has a beautiful text based on a love song, and the third is a fast celebration of all who make music.
“How Can I Keep From Singing” by Robert Wadsworth Lowry arranged by Mark Patterson, is based on an American hymn, a song encouraging strength in times of trouble.
Cristian Grases’ Venezuelan folk song “Canto De Pilon,” performed in Spanish, reflects women working hard grinding the corn. In addition, the choir provides the percussion.
The ensemble next performs in Japanese for “Setoku In” by Ruth Morris Gray. Morren explains that this piece is set to a waka (an ancient Japanese poem) written by the 12th-century ruler Emperor Sutoku.
The concert will conclude with “May the Road Rise Up to Meet You,” an Irish blessing that and wishes everyone good luck on their traveling journey and the journey through life.
Members of the Cameron Concert choir are listed by hometown:
Cushing: Samantha Gillespie
Decatur, Texas: Abigail Howard
Duncan: Taylor McQuinn
Fayetteville, N.C.: Veronica Squire
Fletcher: Heather Heinz
Florence, Italy: Kymbre Muse
Heidelberg, Germany: Alexander Miller
Honolulu, Hawaii: Divina D’Haiti
Joplin, Mo.: Grace Norbury
Lawton/Fort Sill: Sophia Avila, Julianne Davis, Danielle Edwards, Sydney Gibson, Peter Macias, Tatiana Robinson, Mena Stone, Aleah Weber, Lillie Wright
Los Angeles, Calif.: Victoria Moody
Saint Louis, Mo.: Brittany Hall
Stick Bridge, Ga.: Kirstin Dunn
Tijuana, Mexico: Mars Garcia
Walters: Hadlee Smith
Youngstown, Ohio: Marckese Williams
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