MANSFIELD, Pa. — 53 students in the Mansfield University Concert Choir, along with 55 Concert Choir alumni, performed at the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City on Jan. 15 in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King.
The Mansfield students and alumni performed alongside five high school choirs, four of which are directed by MU alumni.
The varied program of choral music featured the works of composer Stacey Gibbs with six of his spiritual arrangements. Gibbs was in attendance for the performances and served as the master of ceremonies.
The finale, “Way Over in Beulah Land,” also the title of the concert, is the third event that Dr. Peggy Dettwiler, director of choral activities, has organized in the prestigious concert hall.
During the concert, longtime supporters of the Mansfield vocal program, Howard and Olynda (Chaffee) Smith, were posthumously honored with the 2023 Del Kieffner Award. This award of national recognition is presented annually to a music educator who has gone above and beyond in their mentoring of young students in the performing arts. Accepting on behalf of the family were Curtis Smith, son, and Cynthia Porter, daughter of Howard and Olynda Smith.
“Mansfield’s esteemed choral program wouldn’t be where it is today without the Smith family and their generosity,” Dettwiler said.
The high school choirs that performed with Mansfield students and alumni included Port Allegany High School (Cole Ramsey, director), Troy High School (Sydney MacDonald, director), Boyertown High School (Jeff Brunner, director), Dover High School (Samantha Roberts, director), and Waynesboro High School (Andrew Wensel, director).
The performance included more than 300 participants across the seven choirs.
A sold-out bus of supporters traveled from Mansfield to Carnegie Hall to witness the concert.
