Choral Concert to Include Biblical Dramas, Choral and Folk Songs

The Ashland University Choir, Chamber Singers and Women’s Chorus will present an eclectic choral concert program ranging from Biblical dramas to choral and folk songs on Sunday, March 25, at 4 p.m. in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Rowland Blackley, professor of Music and director of Choral Activities, will conduct the University Choir and Chamber Singers with Dr. Timothy Guenther accompanying on organ and piano. The University Choir will perform several Biblical dramas reflecting the text in a manner that highlights the strength, sadness, joy or anger contained therein. Pieces will include Lotti’s Crucifixus, Stroope’s The Lamentations of Jeremiah, Philips’ Ascendit Deus, Thomas’ Rockin' Jerusalem as well as Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord by Moore with soloists Drew Berlin (Barberton) and Mark Gorsuch (Ashland); and Saul by Hovland with Jake Riley (Wooster) and Ian Kieffer (Marion) as narrators.

The Chamber Singers will perform selections from two of the great sets of choral songs with four pieces from Brahms' Song and Romances (Opus 93a) including The Humpbacked Fiddler, O Sweet May, Take Heed!, and Farewell; followed by Debussy’s Three Songs of Charles of Orleans (God! She if Fair; When I Hear the Tambourine with soloist Rachel Kelly (Columbus); and Winter, You're Nothing But a Rogue).

Directed by Ashland University alumna Julie Strebler-Renner and accompanied by Susan Gregg, the Women’s chorus' selections will begin with the American folk song Hello, Girls arranged by Pfautsch; and Silvey’s Bloom, a celebration of spring; followed by And Miriam Sang by Highben which is based on Exodus 15:21. Their program will conclude with J. David Moore’s arrangement of the Appalachian folk song Will the Circle be Unbroken.