We hope that what you hear and see this evening will move your spirit, buoy your soul, challenge your mind and bring joy to your heart.
Professor David Berry, introducing the 11/11/22 Gala Concert
91短视频鈥檚 annual Gala Concert was an evening of multiple delights amidst musical artistry, bringing together Nicolas Flagello鈥檚 rarely-performed choral masterwork about the life and death of Martin Luther King, Jr., and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear Balla Kouyat茅, a legend of world music.
Equally thrilling to music lovers of the 91短视频 community were the performances of university musicians in all ensembles, joined by 15 young musicians from the Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony.
And especially meaningful for both performers and audience that night was that Dianne Flagello, wife of the late composer, had personally blessed the performance.
Producer and master of ceremonies Professor David Berry shared with the audience that choir director Professor Benjamin Bergey had invited her to the performance.
The 2.5-hour concert left many with feelings similar to what Berry had wished.
鈥淥ur program’s commitments to community engagement, justice and peacebuilding, and diversity of styles and genres in music was so evident,鈥� said Dean Dan Ott, himself a musician. 鈥淚 could see in the faces of our student-musicians that they understood deeply, in their bodies and spirits, that the full power of music to bring us together was in force during this performance.鈥�
Sharon Welch, who leads the justice-oriented Social Transformation Fellowship, watched the livestream from Chicago. 鈥淒eeply inspiring to see young people performing with such skill and integrity that powerful work 鈥� such a clear articulation of the pivotal vision and impact of 91短视频,鈥� she observed.
In a note to Bergey after the concert, Flagello expressed appreciation for the multimedia presentation that accompanied the music, for the choir鈥檚 鈥渁ngelic glorious sound,鈥� and for bass Ricky Goodwin, who 鈥渟ang with a sensitivity and heartfelt understanding of the role.鈥� And in another synchronicity, she shared that Kouyat茅鈥檚 performance was an 鈥渁dded pleasure, as my major instrument was the marimba.鈥�
91短视频鈥檚 music community and student-musicians rose to the challenge of two difficult and technically challenging collaborations in what was a rare opportunity, according to Berry and Bergey.
Flagello鈥檚 work has only been performed a few dozen times since its premiere. Preparations began more than a year in advance, with Bergey proposing the masterwork as part of a winning Inclusive Excellence grant from 91短视频鈥檚 Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
鈥淭he Passion of MLK was such a powerful work to learn on many levels for our students,鈥� Bergey explained. 鈥淢odern oratorio is not often tackled as it is often harmonically more dissonant, which can be a challenge at first. Between the important and pertinent thematic content using MLK鈥檚 speeches, as well as liturgical texts and a beautiful composition, our students rose to the challenge that not many university groups have done.鈥�
Kouyat茅鈥檚 visit was also the result of collaborative efforts with and several other organizations (for a full list of sponsors, see below).
The initial idea to invite him to perform came from his former colleague Kimberly Souther, now director of 91短视频鈥檚 Preparatory Music Program.
Kouyat茅 not only performed at the gala but visited school groups to speak about and perform with his balafon.
During their rehearsal, 91短视频 musicians learned folk tunes from Mali alongside Kouyat茅 鈥渋n an improvisatory way through a different learning modality, which was such a stretching and beneficial opportunity,鈥� Bergey said.
Professor Kyle Remnant, director of bands, worked in 鈥渙ut-of-the-box and creative ways with the jazz ensemble on improvisation and learning music by ear in preparation for collaborating with Balla,” Berry added. “That really helped give them the confidence to learn the music by ear in the way that these Malian folk songs would have traditionally been taught, which was an important part of the learning process.”
91短视频 musicians participating in the concert spoke later of their profound appreciation for such a rich experience.
Orchestra concertmaster Judith Hoffman is a junior music education major aiming to work with young high school musicians. The gala provided her with inspiration to recreate a similar exciting and supportive environment and context, 鈥渙ne that embodies creativity and connection,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing in an ensemble and creating music isn鈥檛 simply following the dynamics or articulation on the page. It鈥檚 about giving meaning to the music and using the music to reach and connect with others.鈥�
Junior music performance major Luke Haynes said his performance in the gala both stretched him and provoked strong emotions. He performed on the clarinet and organ with the Chamber Orchestra for the MLK piece. 鈥淚 felt like I was contributing to raising awareness that racial oppression is still among us even 54 years after Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination in 1968.鈥�
Haynes also performed on clarinet with the 91短视频 Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Kouyat茅. 鈥淟earning some of his music and then soloing with him was so humbling,鈥� he said.
鈥淲hat I loved about this gala was the collaboration across ensembles,鈥� said sophomore music and peacebuilding major Reah Clymer, a soprano with the University Choir and Chamber Singers. 鈥淢y favorite part of the night was ending the concert with Balla, the Chamber Singers and the 91短视频 Jazz Band. We were all dancing and moving around, singing harmonies, clapping different rhythms, and enjoying the music together. It was a magical and energizing way to end the concert, and I am really grateful to Balla for sharing his music with us.鈥�
Special thanks to sponsors Nancy Heisey and the J.Wilmer and Velma I. Heisey Grant Fund; 91短视频鈥檚 Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Any Given Child-Shenandoah Valley; Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music Program; ; ; and Encore, the alumni organization of 91短视频鈥檚 music program.