Mount Vernon’s Concert Choir and Cornell College’s Concert Choir, Chamber Choir and Chamber Orchestra joined for a special concert Tuesday, Oct. 10.
The group was performing the piece, Illuminare, by Elaine Hagenberg, a composer in residence at Cornell College.
“Your students have been great to work with,” Hagenberg said of the Cornell and Mount Vernon students, ahead of the evening’s performance. “They’ve all been receptive to the changes requested for the piece and worked together collaboratively.”
Directors Thad Wilkins and Christopher Nakielski were also glowing with praise for the joint concert between the musical groups.
Ahead of performing Illuminare, Mount Vernon’s choral students participating in the All-State Chorus auditions presented this year’s four pieces.
Wilkins notes those auditions are Saturday, Oct. 21.
“We have a few members of our chorus who are at a regional volleyball meet, but these students have put a lot of time and energy into these pieces,” Wilkins said.
Illuminare, composed by Hagenberg, an Iowa resident, is a five-movement piece arranged for soprano, alto, tenor and bass choirs and orchestras. The piece uses Latin texts with a narrative arc woven throughout.
A portion of the Mount Vernon High School All State auditioners take an opportunity to perform the All-State pieces, with some solos from Cornell College music department members Tuesday, Oct. 10.