When the College of Lake County Singers perform selections from Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria” at a May 6 concert, the audience will hear a work that “is glorious and cheerful,” said Jeffrey DeLay, the group’s director. Add that to some gospel music by Gospel Choir and a final piece called “The Awakening” sung jointly by the college’s four choirs, and you’ve got the makings of a concert filled with the energy of spring.
DeLay will direct the CLC Singers, a select group of traditional college-age students, and the Choir of Lake County, with 50 to 60 community members and students. Ingrid Mikolajczyk will direct the Chamber Singers, a select ensemble performing challenging music, and Charles Thomas Hayes will guide the audience to clap along with the college’s Gospel Choir that he directs.
“This is one of the strongest choral programs in a community college that I’ve ever seen,” Hayes said. “It rivals programs that are in four-year colleges with its strength of participation.”
He said he often hears audiences remark how inspired they are after hearing a coral concert at CLC. “The arts is a great way to keep us inspired and encouraged,” he said.
Hayes will direct all four choirs, roughly 120 voices, in the final piece, “The Awakening,” by Joseph Martin, a well-known composer of music for choirs, piano and organ.
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“It’s a piece that affirms the importance and value of music,” DeLay said.
Hayes said he’s glad DeLay introduced him to the piece.
“It’s just beautiful. I’m always moved just by rehearsing,” Hayes said.
“The words are so timely. It’s about awakening from a dream where there was no music and no art and how horrible it was. As you awaken, you rejoice for the creation of art.”
The concert also will include selections by each choir. The CLC Singers are preparing “For The Fallen,” a poem set to music by modern choral writer Eleanor Daley.
“This is a good chance for the audience to hear rich harmonies and to enjoy a really nice piece of poetry,” he said. It’s a quiet reflective piece, he said.
The Choir of Lake County will present “The King Shall Rejoice,” by the 1700s-era composer G.P. Handel, with strings and harpsichord. “You can’t go wrong with Handel,” DeLay said. The group will also perform a choral arrangement of the orchestral piece “New World” Symphony by Antonin Dvorak along with selections from “My Fair Lady.”
Hayes said the Gospel Choir will perform a piece called “The Gospel Trinity,” written by Rosephanye Powell, who is considered to be one of America’s premier female composers of choral music.
“It parallels the Gospel Mass and combines different styles,” Hayes said. “It’s such a thrilling piece. I’ve conducted it before. It gives you a feeling of inspiration,” something he hopes the audience will experience by listening to the college’s four choirs.
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
Spring Choral Concert
When: 4 p.m May 6
Where: Lumber Center, College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake
Tickets: $3-$4
Information: 847-543-2300; www.clcillinois.edu/tickets