Midwinter Concert: Choir Review
The concert took place on March 2 in Weber Music Hall. Photo by Morgan James
On Sunday I had the opportunity to attend UMD’s Department of Music midwinter concert, featuring the Chamber Singers, Concert Chorale and University Singers. With over 100 students spread across three choirs, music major and nonmajor alike, it is hard not to see the passion and love they all share for the art.
What made this concert so special was guest conductor Dr. Minji Kim. Serving as a professor at colleges across the country, such as University of Nevada, Las Vegas and University of Maryland, Dr. Kim is not short on experience. Along with choral conducting, she has also conducted for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Kim is recognized for her excellence in conducting, as was seen during the concert.
Chamber Singers opened the concert with a renaissance piece, “Sicut cervus” by Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina,followed by two Baroque period pieces, “A este sol peregrino” by Tomás de Torrejón Velasco, from Peru and “Adjuva nos, Deus” by Manuel de Sumaya, from Mexico City. The Chamber Singers finished off their set with “Leron, Leron Sinta,” a traditional Filipino folk song about love and luck.
Concert Chorale took the stage next and continued the concert with “Heart of Earth” by Shruthi Rajasekar. This was followed by “Pure Imagination” by Leslie Bricusse and Anothony Newley. “I Am Possibility” by David von Kampen, with an uplifting melody. Concert Chorale finished their set with “Arirang” a traditional Korean folk song arranged by Sonja Poorman, featuring Mendota Castonguay on the Flute and conducted by Dr. Kim. Castonguay’s instrumental added a new melancholic feeling to the already sorrowful song.
All choirs came together for “Evocation” by Hye-Young Cho. The song not only had a sentimental meaning, but is held close by conductor Dr. Kim.“This is one of the most heart wrenching and very emotional pieces I have ever worked on,” she said. For the performance of the piece, Dr. Kim encouraged people to keep a loved one in mind. The lyrics of the song spoke of missing someone who was no longer with you, yet was always in your heart. The audience was visibly moved by this piece with multiple people tearing up.
University Singers finished the concert,starting with “Dixit” from Solemn Vespers of the Confessor by W.A. Mozart, followed by “The Body of the Moon” by Desmond Earley, featuring Betsy Husby on the cello and Jake Seaberg on the bass drum. Combined with lyrics from Galileo Galilei, it gave the song an eerie feeling about the moon and the universe. Next was “Missing You” by Teddy Park and closing with “Ong-Hye-Ya” and Korean folk song by Hye-Young Cho, conducted by Dr. Kim.
The Midwinter Concert was a wonderful way to kick off the spring semester. For more information about the Department of Music and upcoming events, visit the CAHSS website.