Carroll College has been on my radar a lot more since I had the pleasure of experiencing "Christmas at Carroll," (see 12/3 blog) but their latest event almost went unnoticed by me. I have the Carroll Arts Calendar and it wasn't in there. I didn't see it in the paper. As a matter of fact it wasn't even listed on the
Carroll website. The only way I found out about a joint choirs concert Sunday was by clicking on
the Weekender on WaukeshaNOW. But they didn't have to advertise, First Presbyterian Church, where it was held, was packed.
It was appropriate to hold the joint efforts of the Concert Choir, Women's Ensemble, Vocal Collective and Chorale in an historic building. Not only did the music span the centuries from the Renaissance to present but just a couple hours earlier, in a Sunday homily at my church, I heard the pastor speak about feeling God in arts, architecture and music.
We knew we were in for quite a special afternoon when we noticed the usher wearing a tux. It turns out this busy fellow, Timothy C., also played piano and sang tenor in the Chorale, directed and sang in the Collective and directed the Concert Choir. The biggest applause of the day was for a song Tim harmonized in with the other men of the Vocal Collective, the 1950s song, Silhouettes.
The song I enjoyed most? Requiem, a song written to remember the thousands of lost lives after the 2004 tsunami. All the members of the Women's Ensemble stood in a single line across the front of the sanctuary and half way down each side. It's the most beautiful, meaningful song performed with such feeling that it momentarily took my breath away. A free will collection was taken at intermission in support of the choirs and if I could hear just that one song performed again I'd gladly give more than just another three dollars.
So, there's always something good to do in the area if you know where to look. And when it comes to Carroll College something to do is always exciting, professional... and inexpensive.
