Choir Holds “150 Years of Music” Concert

On April 28, 2019, the Wilson College Choir held its spring concert in Thompson Chapel. This year, the theme of the concert was to celebrate Wilson’s 150-year anniversary. Song selections included some hits from when Wilson College was founded in 1869 like “Shoo Fly!” and “How Can I Keep from Singing?” Other songs were written, composed, or performed by Wilson alumni like the finale from the musical “Naughty Marietta,” whose lyrics were written by an alumna.
Other songs highlighted different aspects throughout the time Wilson has been around, such as “Seal Lullaby,” composed by Eric Whitacre and written originally by Rudyard Kipling. “Singin’ in the Rain” was a popular hit as well. Solo acts were performed by Molly Lemke, ‘20, who sang “Lullaby for a Stormy Night” and a trio composed of Hannah Hartley, ‘19, Marissa Rankin, ‘19, and Olivia Shirk, ‘21, performed “Super Trouper” from the ABBA-inspired musical “Mamma Mia!”
The final three songs were an interactive sort, encouraging the audience to join in with the choir. “We are the World” was a piece written in the 1980s for Haiti, originally performed by many pop stars of the time to show their support of the relief efforts. The choir sang this song previously for Muhibbah Night, and decided to keep it for the concert performance as well. “Let There be Peace on Earth” is a song director Lisa Turchi feels is relevant at all times, whether it be peace within the mind, the heart, or the outside world itself.
The concert included Wilson’s Alma Mater, as a nod to the alumae who wrote it and with special thanks to Judy Young, ‘63. Judy has been a huge supporter of the choir and its a capella group, the DiversiTones, for many years. While she attended Wilson, she was an alto in the choir, and every now and again she visits the choir room to sing with the choir once again. Lisa Turchi has received many praises for the concert since then and is very excited to start working on some pieces for Baccalaureate and the fall semester.

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