By: Christian Williams
ABAC’s community choir held a concert at the Howard Auditorium on March 5. The performance was open to ABAC students and the community members of Tifton. The community choir consists of 25 unique voices that blend together to bring the notes written on sheet music to life.
The concert consisted of nine musical selections that included “Come to the Water” by John Foley and arranged by Lynda Hassler, ”All Earth Rejoice with a Gladsome Voice” by Antonio Vivaldi and arranged by Hal Hopson; ”Schoene Nacht (O Lovely Night)” by Johannes Brahm and edited by Maynard Klein; ”Sure on this Shinning Night” by Morten Lauridsen; ”The Road Not Taken” and ”A Girl’s Garden” from ”Frostiana” by Randall Thompson; a medley from ”Oklahoma!” By Richard Roger and Oscar Hammerstein and arranged by John Leavitt; ”Alleluia” by Randall Thompson; and ”Gloria In Excelsis Deo” by Jeff Trenchard.
Marti Schert, the choir director at ABAC who made the performance possible, said, “I was very pleased with the performance. We have been working since January on these pieces, and we meet once a week, so to have this much repertoire put together, I was very pleased.”
A favorite from the audience was the Medley from “Oklahoma!” during which the choir used props such as bandanas for the gentlemen and flower hair clips for the women. The crowd was clapping along to the beat, enjoying themselves as the auditorium was filled with music.
A member of the community choir, James Landis, who has been a member for almost a year and is actively involved with the music program at ABAC, stated his favorite selection from the program was ”The Road Not Taken” from “Frostiana.” He expressed how the concert felt rushed, but he was satisfied with the choir’s performance.
Having community participation in the music program at ABAC is beneficial to the department. The ABAC music students help attract locals just by discussing the music events taking place on campus.
Landis explained, ”I actually met one of the trumpet majors at Waffle House…I heard him talking about the band program, and I asked him if there was a band program here in Tifton, and he brought me here.”
The members of the community choir are:
Sopranos: Susan Eigen, Ashton Fulp, Victoria Horst, Hanna Ivey, Heather Newsberry, and Stephanie Wilson
Altos: Deborah Blakey, Margaret Conner, Kenzie Larry, Anne Njoroge, Mary Ophelia, Bri Rogers, and Babi Barman
Tenors: Turner Conger, Paul Horst, Kevin Juarez, James Landis, Isaiah Ricks, and Robert Williams
Basses: Jose Camacho-Cema, Filiberto Hernandez, Dr. Brian Ray, and Erick Rubio
The community choir members range in a variety of ages and musical backgrounds. However, they collectively have one attribute: their passion for music.
The band program at ABAC and the High School Band Director’s National Association invites the community to the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony of Eugene H. Wyles on April 9 at 7 p.m. in the Howard Auditorium.
The next music event will be ”Abraham Baldwin Players Spring Production Featuring: “The Abraham Baldwin Players” on March 28, 29, and 30 at 7 p.m. in Howard Auditorium.