The Chamber Choir and Vocal Rhapsody Ensemble of Cleveland State Community College will present their annual spring concert on Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m. in the George R. Johnson Cultural Heritage Center Auditorium.
“We are sharing a mix of songs and are also celebrating the life of Penni Jo Wilson, a long-time faculty member and friend who died suddenly at the start of this academic year,” stated Karen Dale, associate professor of music. “The concert is titled "Songs of Faith, Fun, Respect and Love.
Students and faculty (and family if they desire) will have the opportunity to speak about Penni and share a few of the many fun memories of our time with her.”
According to Ms. Dale, the concert includes a set of sacred songs: “Lift Thine Eyes” from Mendelssohn's Elijah, “Music Down in My Soul,” Moses Hogan arrangement, “Omnia Sol” and a hymn medley and recordings of Penni Jo singing her favorite hymns. They will sing the whimsical composition by Randall Thompson, “A Girl's Garden”, which is part of the Frostiana Set (poems of Robert Frost) and will also include a Doo-Wop selection, “In the Still of the Night” and an acappella version of the upbeat song, “Happy.”
R-E-S-P-E-C-T will close out the first half of the program, and there will be several Broadway/Show selections in the second half, including a medley from “Wicked,” “Seasons of Love,” “This is Me,” and “I Could Have Danced All Night.”
Ms. Dale stated, “Graduation Journey” will be dedicated to those graduating, with lyrics penned by business professor, Amy Fowler, who has sung with Vocal Rhapsody since it began in the spring of 2009. Both Amy and Penni Jo have been faithful singers as faculty with the ensemble, and have served as mentors to countless collegiate singers.”
The concert is free, and everyone is invited to attend.