Written by Ashley Ragone
staff writer
The university’s choir and chorus opened the 2024-2025 season with “Beauty Through My Own Eyes” on Oct. 18 at Mayo Concert Hall. This performance celebrated music composed entirely by women, and this theme will continue in future concerts with new selections by female composers.
The choir was led by John Leonard, director of choral activities and professor of music. Leonard shared some insight into her approach to the season, noting that she had never before created a season with such dedication to women’s work.
“I’ve never done it before, but there’s such a great repertoire,” Leonard said. “And when I was putting this whole season together this year, the ones that I had already chosen solidly were all female composers… I like to basically create a theme every year, and I said, “Then, how about we have all female composers?”
Since 2010, under Leonard’s artistic direction, the university’s choral program has premiered numerous works, including Andrea Clearfield’s “Poet of Body and Soul.” The performance featured a reprise of the 2012 commissioned work by the singers, with Clearfield himself in the audience.
Inspired by poet Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself,” the piece ended with a striking visual and aural selection of chorales lining the venue’s aisles. The choir delivered a memorable final verse.
The evening was marked by some great performances. Among the highlights is Lili Boulanger’s “Hymne au Soleil,” a work that celebrates the solar symbol of life and happiness with an atmosphere of optimism and intensity.
“No Time,” written by Susan Brumfield, is a camp meeting song inspired by traditional sermons. Choir member Anthony Birchy, a sophomore majoring in secondary education and history, said the song is his favorite song to perform because of the “great harmonies.”
Additionally, Carol Burnett’s “Gloria” from “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass” brought traditional sacred music to life, injecting upbeat rhythms. Hyo Won Woo’s “Pal So Sung,” or “Eight Laughs,” is very funny because it consists of nonsense syllables and intermittent laughter.
Leonard spoke of his enthusiasm for this music and how it felt “refreshing” to perform this new repertoire. Birchie also said that she loves singing and that when she has the opportunity to perform, she “feels like a completely different person”.
Looking ahead, the university’s choir will hold its next concert on Nov. 23, where it will specifically perform “Gloria” with an expanded band ensemble. They will continue their efforts to perform female composers and highlight the vibrant contributions of women in music.
