The Rockbridge Youth Chorale will offer a wide variety of songs as it presents its 25th anniversary fall concert on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church. Doors open at 7:10 p.m.
Admission is a suggested minimum donation of $5 for student or child, $10 for adult or $25 for a family. This is a family friendly event featuring the RYC youth choir under the direction of Lacey R. Lynch and children’s choir directed by Katelyn Roll.
The children’s choir (grades 1-5) has been hard at work discovering their individual voices and collective forces. “Froggie Went a Courtin,’” arranged by Audrey Snyder, has the singers telling a comical story and features several character soloists. “Haida,” arranged by Henry Leck, is a Chassidic round which is a fun, catchy tune that gets the beginning choir singing in parts and a simple round that has already proven to be stuck in their heads throughout the week between rehearsals. The Children’s Choir has also begun prepping many holiday pieces, and the song “No School Tomorrow” by Jay Althouse has them anxiously awaiting extra vacation days due to snow.
The youth choir (grades 6-12) has an eclectic set of literature featuring favorite composers and literature of the singers over the years, as well as some new pieces. Rollo Dilworth’s music has been incredibly popular with the RYC singers, so the choir is bringing back his hauntingly beautiful, gospel-style composition “The Dream Keeper” featuring poetry by Langston Hughes.
Another popular composer over the years has been Jim Papoulis who takes musical styles and ideas from around the globe and weaves them together to create relatable and meaningful music for young people. The children’s and youth choirs are joining together to perform his powerful piece “I Ask for One Day, a song about searching and hoping for at least one day where the world can come together in peace. Other pieces include an arrangement of the madrigal “Sing We and Chant It” by Thomas Morley and arranged by Russell Robinson. Jumping from the 16th century to modern day, a final piece to highlight is “Sisi Ni Moja” by Jacob Naverud. The text of the piece translates to “we are one,” a fitting reminder of the power of music to bring people together to create beauty and joy, no matter our differences.
