Voices in Harmony concert was the calm during the storm

By: Briana Scafidi
Posted In: News

The Salve community felt the effects of Hurricane Noel last weekend as windows shook and tree branches fell across wet roads. Power lines were down and the Mount Hope Bridge was closed, but inside of Ochre Court voices sang in harmony and heads turned in unison with the flipping of music book pages. The University Chorus and Madrigals and the Bryant Singers, as well as an a cappella group from each school, presented a combined choral concert with a little something for everyone, with pieces from artists ranging from Bach to the Beatles.

In a piece called Voice Dance, composed by Greg Jasperse, Salve’s Madrigal Chorus lifted their heads from their sheet music to share with the audience their heartfelt joy. It was obvious that this was a favorite song of many of the chorus members.

With a long line of clicking heels at the end of the song, The Madrigal Chorus filed out and Bryant’s filed in to sing five songs, including a beautiful arrangement of Pete Seeger’s Turn, Turn, Turn and a medley from Les Miserables. Salve’s conductor and music director, Don St. Jean substituted for the conductor of the Bryant Singers, which provided the audience with even more entertainment. St. Jean was a show in himself, his love for music and enjoyment of the pieces flowing forward more and more with each wave of his hand.

The University Chorus filed in and showed their versatility in performing a range of songs including Shenandoah, a beautiful and softly solemn song whose sound filled Ochre Court with a sense of warmth and comfort, followed by an old Beatles favorite, When I’m Sixty-four.

When the chorus had filed out, Salve’s all-male a cappella group, Cliffnotes, took the stage to perform three songs, including an especially enjoyable arrangement of Brown Eyed Girl, performed by soloist Matthew Dinda, and an exciting and hilarious rendition of Zombie Jamboree, arranged by Erik Sperl. Next Bryant’s co-ed a capella group, The Bottom Line, performed Call Me When You’re Sober by Evanescence and Africa by D. Paich/J. Porcaro.

Finally the Bryant Singers and University Chorus joined together to sing Roger Whittaker’s I Am But a Small Voice and Michael Scott’s Grant Us Peace. “This is what it’s about,” St. Jean said, “voices in harmony”. The choruses sang soothingly, “Give us peace, prosperity and love for all mankind”. By the end of the concert, the rain and wind had stopped and inside and out of Ochre Court there was a sense of peace.
*NOTE: Mosaic’s November 2007 issue ran this story with the wrong byline. Briana Scafidi is the correct author and Mosaic is sorry for the confusion.