The Chamber Choir concert will be at 7:30 p.m. in Ley Theatre.
The Wayne State College Chamber Choir will present “Echoes of Connection” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in Ley Theatre, located on the second floor of the Brandenburg Building. The concert is free and open to the public.
The performance will also be livestreamed. The concert program will be available on the event page, which can be accessed from the Upcoming Livestream Events section on the Watch Live page.
“Echoes of Connection” celebrates a spectrum of choral styles exploring how music unites human experience across time, nature, and culture. The performance showcases the ensemble’s versatility with three distinct musical sets.
The first set focuses on traditional choral repertoire. “Call to Remembrance,” an English prayer-like anthem by Richard Farrant, features a Renaissance a cappella polyphony creating a rich tapestry of sound. “Die Nachtigall” by Felix Mendelssohn offers a contrasting Romantic-era piece, depicting spring’s return of the nightingale through echoing vocal lines. The 1970 pop song “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell closes the set with a juxtaposition of playful musical elements conveying the tension between industrial progress and the natural world.
The second set pivots to vocal jazz highlighting the ensemble’s stylistic flexibility in a lively swing style rendition of “As Long as I’m Singing” by Bobby Darin. Aurae Voces, the student-led a cappella group, performs selections emphasizing close harmony and contemporary vocal styles.
The third set centers on stage and screen music. A medley from the movie “La La Land,” with music by Justin Hurwitz and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, spotlights theatrical flair and jazz-influenced harmonies. In contrast, “Sunday” from “Sunday in the Park with George” by Stephen Sondheim, reveals a more dramatic and lyrical style, requiring supported vocal tone and expressive depth. Sondheim is well known for his brilliant lyrics and sophisticated compositions, which helped to elevate musical theatre as serious art.
Dr. Matthew Armstrong, director of choral activities at Wayne State, will conduct the concert.
For more information, contact the Wayne State Department of Music at 402-375-7359.