Wooster Chorus to begin annual tour with performance on March 9

The highly acclaimed Wooster Chorus, an ensemble of 50 student musicians from The College of Wooster, will perform at the First Presbyterian Church of Wooster (621 College Avenue) on Saturday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m., the first concert of the group’s 58th annual spring tour.

Other stops on the tour include New Wilmington Presbyterian Church in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania on March 10 at 7 p.m.; Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak, New York on March 12 at 7:30 p.m.; and Highlands Presbyterian Church in Long Valley, New Jersey on March 13 at 7 p.m. The chorus will also combine with fellow student singers during their visit to The Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania.

Directed by Lisa Wong and assisted by pianist Toni Arnold-Shreve, the Wooster Chorus will present “Walk Together.” The program explores individual and collective journeys, highlighting the importance of community. In keeping with the group’s goals of performing music from living composers and artists from marginalized communities, the program includes works by Undine Smith Moore, Diane White-Clayton, and Elaine Hagenberg, among others.

Wong is in her 15th year at Wooster, where she is the Olive Williams Kettering Professor of Music, teaching classes in conducting, choral literature, and music education. In addition to her duties at the College, she is the director of choruses for The Cleveland Orchestra. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from West Chester University, and a master’s and doctoral degrees in choral conducting from Indiana University.

Founded in 1964, the Wooster Chorus is comprised of students representing all academic areas within The College of Wooster’s liberal arts program. The award-winning ensemble has been repeatedly praised for its beautiful sound, high level of artistry, creative programming, and engaging performances. The Chorus collaborates annually with The Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and has premiered works by American composers including Eric Whitacre, Jocelyn Hagen, and Jake Runestad. The ensemble has performed at the Central Division conference of the American Choral Directors Association and several times at the state conference of the Ohio Music Education Association.

For more information, contact Jill Harbaugh at jharbaugh@wooster.edu or by phone at 330-263-2419.

Posted in Event on March 6, 2024.