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Spring Choirfest to bring diversity and culture to Weber State

(Photo Courtesy of the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts and Humanities)
Choral singers perform gospel, folk and classical vocal pieces at the Austad Auditorium in the Browning Center. (Photo Courtesy of the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts and Humanities)

Southern gospel music, traditional folk songs and classical vocal pieces will all be found this Thursday at Weber State’s Spring Choirfest.

This event, held in the Austad auditorium in the Browning Center at 7:30 p.m., will be the last concert event of the season for WSU’s choir and chamber choir. Both have been preparing for two months perfecting the songs and preparing a show for the audience to enjoy.

Christie Denniston, director of marketing and public relations, feels that this show will be unique because of the talent that will be on stage.

“I think one of the attributes that distinguishes this performance is that some world class performers are going to go on and perform professionally,” Denniston said. “It is one of the audiences last chance to see some of these individuals here on our stage as students before they go out into the world and perform.”

Graduating senior and vocal performance major Derek Myler felt his last performance has a lot of variety with songs and a lot of talent on stage. Derek felt this show stands out in the type of music being performed.

“We are doing a set in a music called a sacred harp tradition which is a style of choral singing which started in the south,” said Myler. “It is really, really rare that is done on a concert stage.”

It’s not only the songs that are challenging. Many of the performers not only sing but also play instruments or conduct for the performance. Myler plays piano for a couple songs and fellow senior Carolyn Kingston helped conduct pieces.

Myler and Kingston both had challenges with their performances.

“It made me stop and think what my conducting style is,” said Kingston. “I had to consider what I got from the music and what I wanted them to do.”

One song that Myler and Kingston both feel the audience will appreciate is “Baba Yetu,” the Lord’s Prayer performed in Swahili.

“I think the audience will enjoy ‘Baba Yetu.’ It will be done with traditional African sound and some soloists are going to be doing some improvisation,” said Myler. “It is a very fun and lively piece.”

For Kingston, singing and conducting as a senior have made her realize why she likes to perform on stage.

“(We) are sharing something that is very personal and a big part of ourselves when we perform or sing together,” said Kingston.

This concert will have a wide variety of songs performed and the performers have put everything they have into each song.

“It is always good for people to come out and see some diversity,” said Myler. “(This diversity) I think is something beneficial for people to expose themselves to.”

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