By Ashlyn Armock, Arts Editor
Two of the Aquinas choirs, Chamber Singers and the College Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Kelly Ford went on a concert tour during the last week of March. The tour consisted of a mix of performances from an organ dedication mass, lenten meditations and the stations of the cross.
Aquinas Chamber Singers warming up before the concert at St. Patrick’s Catholic church – Photo by Ashlyn Armock
The opening concert was a lenten meditation that took place at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Monday March 23. The group performed eleven pieces, entirely memorized. Some of the pieces included: Gradual by Anton Bruckner, If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments by Thomas Tallis, Ubi Caritas by Maurice Durufle, O Vos Omnes by Pablos Casals and Ave Maria Angelus Domini by Franz Biebl.
Biebl’s Ave Maria featured a separate trio which consisted of students Noah Morris, Mary Kampe and Amelia Huysentruyt as well as three solo chants performed by students Henry Vredevelt, Anna O’Neill and Noah Morris.
On Wednesday, March 25, Sacred Heart of Jesus held their organ dedication mass for the new 39-rank pipe Peter F. Secchia Memorial Organ. The dedication began with an organ recital, performed by Johnathan Bading, Directed of Sacred Music and included pieces by DeGrigny, Frescobaldi, Bach, Tournemire and Alain. A mass celebrating the feast of the Annunciation followed the recital and included the Aquinas College Chorus and Chamber Singers along with two of Sacred Heart’s schola groups.
The entrance into Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic church – Photo by Ashlyn Armock
Pieces that the College Chorus performed included: Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo by Joseph Haydn which featured soprano soloist Amelia Huysentruyt, Ave Maria by James MacMillan, Praise to the Holiest in the Height by John Henry Newman and O Sanctissima, O Piissima. The Chamber Singers also performed Biebl’s Ave Maria as well.
The third concert of the week was another lenten meditation with the Chamber Singers and was performed at St. Isidore the Laborer Catholic Church. The group performed the same pieces as the previous meditation which also included: Do Not Be Afraid by Philip W.J. Stopford which featured soprano soloist Mary Kampe, Tenebrae factae sunt by Michael Haydn, Adoramus Te Christe by Francois-Clement Dubois, Ave Verum by Flor Peeters, Tantum Ergo by Alexander Gretchaninov and Be Still My Soul by Jean Sibelius.
Chamber Singers performing at St. Isidore the Laborer Catholic church – Photo by David Harwood
Finally the Chamber Singers were brought back to Sacred Heart for their last
performance of the week, stations of the cross. This service was comprised of the same music the group had sung for the previous lenten meditations but in a slightly different order so that the music could be an accurate reflection on whatever station that the piece would follow.
The choirs all hope to continue touring in future semesters to come. Upcoming concerts and performances for all groups within Aquinas’ Music Department can be found in the link below:
https://www.aquinas.edu/academics/music/concerts-and-events.html
The Saint 