April 16, 2008  

Public invited to April 24 Spring Choral Concert at Pellissippi State

“Old Man River” will be the grand finale musical composition of this year’s concert season at Pellissippi State Technical Community College, when the piece is performed at the Spring Choral Concert April 24.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, is at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Performing Arts Center on the Pellissippi Campus on Hardin Valley Road.

The spiritual is one of a wide spectrum of music to be performed by the Variations Ensemble, a 36-member auditioned choir, and the 65-member Concert Chorale.

Variations performs following a March 1-8 trip to Poland, where the group sang in such unusual venues as a salt mine and a concentration camp. This concert is a celebration of the tour, and a PowerPoint show accompanies the music.

Students will perform a variety of styles—Renaissance, Baroque, classical, contemporary—says Bill Brewer, associate professor of Music and concert director.

A special feature of the evening will be the performance of “Honor and Glory,” a selection written by Pellissippi State Music student Nick Powell. When the Concert Chorale sings his composition, he will accompany on the piano.

He describes the sentiment behind the music’s creation:

“I thought I’d like to write a piece that could infuse a person with power, that when they heard it, they would really feel the strength behind it. Once I’d written a piece like that, I found it very patriotic, so I decided to dedicate it to our young ladies and gentlemen overseas.”

During last year’s spring concert, the Concert Chorale performed another Powell composition, “Dacian Elegy: A Prayer for Fallen Soldiers.”

Other highlights of the evening include a soprano duet with Concert Chorale members Sara Sewell and Erin Carter and solos by Variations members Jerrod Cate and Jo Bailey. Paul Johnson will be the vocal soloist for “Old Man River.”

“This will complete a very successful concert season,” said Brewer. “We’ve had more students enrolled in our ensembles than in previous years.”

For more information, contact Bill Brewer at (865) 694-6701.

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