The Salve Regina University chorus teamed up with the Bryant University chorus in a performance at Ochre Court Saturday, November 14th.
The concert featured both universities’ choruses, a Capella groups, and audition choruses.
The show opened with a slight change in their original program in light of the recent terror attack on Paris, France.
“I knew that I wanted to acknowledge… the recent news and to start with a moment of silence,” Salve Regina University chorus director Dr. Donald St. Jean said.
The SRU chorus performed first, reciting songs about religious and moral virtues.
“We had these two religious pieces on the University Chorus set. We had The Last Words of David…and we had also the Hallelujah Chorus… to cap it off with the Hallelujah Chorus kind of gave, in my mind…an element of… triumph over adversity,” Dr. St. Jean said.
Our chorus was then followed by the Bryant University chorus, whose program included a medley of songs from the musical Le Miserables. These pieces performed by both choruses gave a particularly powerful message to the audience still reeling from the previous night’s news.
“There’s a struggle that… dates back a couple centuries… and here we are with… yet another one focused on Paris,” Dr. St. Jean said.
Salve chorus members say that they’ve had a very positive experience collaborating with Bryant University students.
“They seem like a very dedicated group of students who take pride in their chorus,” said freshman Sophia Tiano.
There was a lot of work that went into making the concert so successful. The University chorus here at Salve rehearses every Thursday evening while the campus audition chorus called the Madrigals rehearses every Tuesday and Thursday to prepare for shows. Meanwhile, Salve’s men’s a Cappella group called “The Cliffnotes” rehearses on Thursdays and Salve’s women’s a Cappella group called “Pitches with Attitude” rehearses on Sundays and Wednesdays.
“We’re all kind of a family,” Tiano says.
“It’s really relaxing to…have that consistency every week…and…playing a part in something bigger than just yourself,” junior Stephanie Menders says.
