GALLERY: High school choirs, CC Singers make a musical impact

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

Requiems aren’t always played for funerals and some don’t sound gloomy, as an audience found Feb. 20.

Several Charles City choirs came together to present part of a requiem mass at Trinity United methodist Church Feb. 20.

“You are making an impact on the audiences lives by singing for them tonight,” Derek Sturtevant, Charles City Choral director said prior to concert to his singers.

Sturtevant, the Charles City High School choir director, directed the entire concert.

The first two songs were by the Concert Choir followed by the Comet Chorus. The “Inscription of Hope,” and “Bonse Aba” were song by the high school Concert Choir.

Two soloist along with a bongo and shaker accompaniment led the choir through “Bonse Aba”. Tyreque Baker, John Perez and Joe Iseneker were out in front singing together and apart.

The Comet Chorus was up next and sang “Lineage”. The choir presented “Lineage” with the lyric “My grandmother was strong,” making the point of the title.

Prior to the main show the Chaarles City Vocal Jazz made their debut performance. Presenting a rendition of “Amazing Grace”.

Vocal Jazz was met a roar of applause by the audience as they finished their set.

The main stage show was Gabriel Faure’s Requiem in D minor accompanied by Scott Blankenbaker on the organ.

“I want the kids to experience a large piece,”  Sturtevant said.

The requiem presented both the talents of the choir and the Charles City Singers in one moving piece.

“We had the singers for it and wanted to incorporate the Charles City Singers”, Sturtevant said.

The only instrument aside from the voices of the singers was the organ accompaniment with a moving Kyrie to begin the piece the audience was set in its seats listening to the melody.

Soloist Jessica Hyde and Christopher Arp help present the music ring in the perfect church setting.

The music reach a moving crescendo during In Paradisum and finished strong.

Before the audience left the Charles City High School choirs, along with former choir members sang the “Charles City High School Alma Mater”, to finish off the concert.