MANSFIELD, PA – The Mansfield University Concert Choir and the Chamber Singers, under the direction of Peggy Dettwiler, will present their final concert of the academic year in Steadman Theatre on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 pm. The choir just completed a two-day tour, where they performed in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Ephrata, PA, and Central Dauphin High School, the Capitol Rotunda, and the Bethesda Mission, all in Harrisburg.
The Concert Choir’s program includes works from the 16th to the 21st century, from sacred motets to a Carly Simon Country Song. Two student conductors will be featured: Shannon Pizzirusso, a junior studying Music Education, and Sean Andres, a junior in the Music Technology program. Having been selected from applicants during the Conducting Symposium with guest conductor Linda Tedford of Messiah College, they will direct works by Haydn and Palestrina.
The choir will also present a World Premiere composed for them by 1978 Mansfield alumnus, Brian Story. To The Ever-New Dawn is set to an ancient Sanskrit poem, “Look to this day.” Brian S. Story has been a marching band and concert band arranger/composer with Belwin Publications since 1993 and has over 70 published band compositions and arrangements under the pen name of Brian Scott. His choral compositions are published by Colla Voce under the name Brian Story. Before his retirement in 2018, Brian was a music educator for 40 years.
The 15-voice Chamber Singers will perform several of their works that they presented in March for their concert, “De Animals A-Comin.'” The concert was in collaboration with the Second Chance Animal Sanctuary and hosted a few animals to be adopted!
The evening of singing will include music that touches hearts and minds and instills some laughter as well. The concert is free and open to the public.