Wes Serafine
Equinox Staff
As the fall semester finally approaches its end, the Keene State College Music Department closes out the season with their traditional concert from the Keene State Concert Choir. These young singers and musicians gave an amazing show that was enjoyed by all. The first half of the show featured an amazing strings section and incredible soloists who sang several classical pieces. It was a truly incredible how these young singers were able to memorize these pieces in foreign languages. After the first section was over, the mood shifted to more light-hearted numbers, most of them having to do with the holiday season. At one point, the choir tried the very clever technique of having some members go out into the audience and produce a sort of echo effect during their lovely rendition of “Do You See What I See.”
It was also unique and interesting that the audience observed the tradition of standing during their finale of Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus. “It is based on a tradition, when the [Handel] Messiah was first performed and King George heard it for the first time he was so moved and it was said that he stood up and because the king stood, it means that everybody stood up,” Diane Cushing, the director of Concert Choir, explained. After the amazing performance, several KSC students were simply amazed by what they had seen.
Freshman Devon Laraby said, “I think it was amazing. My high school didn’t have anything like this, so it was definitely really exciting to hear.” “We practice twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays from noon to 1:30 p.m.” Cushing said. “These kids are great, they’re very hard working.” Cushing also remarked that over break, several of the students who participate in Concert Choir will be going to Disney World to sing in the candlelight processional. “It’s been fun to work on classical in the first half and then more lighter numbers that were geared towards the holidays for the second half,” Cushing said. She concluded by saying, “Anyone on campus can be in the Concert Choir, we take any voice and shape it and give it a good work out so people can improve their overall health by singing in a choir.”
Wes Serafine can be contacted at
wserafine@keene-equinox.com
