The 37 vocalists of the Drake University Chorale joined their voices Tuesday night with the 70 singers in the Perry High School Treble Clef Choir for an hour-long concert of soaring songs.
The 7 p.m. performance began with the PHS students ing Arts Center at 1200 18th St. in Perry.
The all-female choirs spent the day rehearsing and socializing at PHS prior to the 7 p.m. performance, which began with the PHS Treble Clef Choir, conducted by PHS Vocal Music Director Jenn Nelson, delivering four selections: “The Maiden’s Farewell” by Linda Spevacek, “A Night Song” by Larry A. Christiansen, “Elijah Rock” arranged by Rollo Dilorth and “See How the Rose Unfolds” by Elaine Hagenberg. The accompanist was Rich Dewein.
Two soloists then sang: soprano Mackenzie Jones performed “Après un rêve” by Gabriel Fauré, and soprano Jaymee Dixon sang “I Am in Need of Music” by Ben Moore.
The full Drake University Chorale, conducted by Linda Vanderpool, performed five selections: “”Dominus Vobiscum” by Jacob Narverud, “The Beauty of Your Dreams” by Joan Szymko, “Ave Generosa” by Dale Trembore, “Song of Miriam” by Elaine Hagenberg and “Things that Never Die” by Eleanor Daley. The accompanist was Elaine Wedeking.
A local connection linked the two choirs in the person of Drake University junior Haley Martin, who moved to Perry with her mother three years ago and is pursuing a double major at DU in vocal music and religion.
Martin soloed at last weekend’s Drake Chorale Celebration of Women Concert, and she is a section leader and a choir assistant with the Drake Chorale. Equally solid is her academic performance, which includes appearing on the DU Dean’s List, getting elected to the Panhellenic Council and joining the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
When not singing or studying, Martin works as a lead counselor at Camp Fontanelle, a United Methodist family camp near Fremont, Neb.
With so much in common, the choirs were bound to come together for a rousing finale, bringing the PAC crowd to its feet with their version of “I Shall Not Live in Vain” by John Armstrong, adapted from a poem by Emily Dickinson.
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain.
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
The next event in the Perry Fine Arts Concert Series will be the Three Amigos Mariachi Band, performing Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. at the Perry Performing Arts Center.
Perry Fine Arts concerts are free and open to the public. Donations are accepted. The Perry Performing Arts Center is handicapped accessible. For more information, contact Cathy Clark at 515-681-6184 or cecat49@msn.com.
