Requiem performed at Madonna Della Strada
Posted by charliestreehouse on April 29, 2011
By Matt Graham
The Loyola University Chicago Chorus, Chamber Choir and Orchestra performed a combined concert featuring Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart‘s Requiem Wednesday evening at Madonna Della Strada Chapel,
The concert began with the Chamber Choir and Orchestra and all graduating seniors of both ensembles were recognized for their contributions. The ensembles, led by The Rev. Charles Jurgensmeier, S.J., sang several songs by variety of composers including a work by Johann Pachelbel featuring the use of a harpsichord.
Next, Dr. Colin Holman took the stage to lead the orchestra in a moving rendition of Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished.” They then performed a Viola Concerto by George Philipp Telemann featuring student Kelly Lavieri as the virtuosic solo.
After the orchestra completed their works, the university chorus took to the altar to perform Mozart’s Requiem. The eight movement Mass is one of Mozart’s most famous and well known works but university chorus director Kirsten Hedegaard felt up to the challenge.
“It was my first time directing (Requiem) the whole way through,” said Hedegaard who received her Masters Degree in conducting from the University of California, “I think the students sang extraordinarily well.”
Hedegaard went on to say that she has enjoyed conducting the university chorus since she came to Loyola this past fall semester 2010 saying, ”I really like the student body here, the intelligent students.”
.
The students on stage seemed to enjoy learning and performing the prolific work as well. Patrice Gardner, a senior psychology major said it took almost the entire semester to learn the Mass.
“It was hard work, but I love it,” said Gardner who sings alto in the chorus and is a native of Chicago.
All the hard work paid off for the performers and directors with the concert ending with a standing ovation from the audience.
Loyola senior Lia Horton counts herself among those standing in support. Horton, a Spanish major from Birmingham, Alabama said she came to the concert because several of her friends perform in the ensembles.
“I loved seeing my friends perform the Requiem but I enjoyed all the ensembles. I especially liked the ‘Unfinished’ song. It made me feel like I was in a movie. But one of my friends had a solo in the Requiem so that was also very exciting.”
