The 2011 ESU Winter Choral Concert

The East Stroudsburg University of PA presented their Music Department’s 2011 Winter Choral Concert on Wednesday December 7th in The Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall at their Fine and Performing Arts Center. The program consisted of performances given by the A Cappella Ensemble and The Concert Choir under the direction of Prof. James Maroney with Pauline Fox serving as musical accompanist. The well attended event featured the voices derived from members of the campus community along with those individuals residing in the surrounding area.

The program began with selections sung by the university’s A Cappella Ensemble featuring solo performances given by Danielle Tretola, Ely Reys-Viruet, Patrick Mertz, Paula Dixon, and David Yablonski. The variety of the pieces ranged from the classical works such as one written by Felix Mendelssohn to holiday folk carols originating from eastern and western Europe. The vocal ranges were pleasing to the ear and served to prepare the audience for the concert yet to come.

Several more Classical and folk melodies touched the audience’s ears and hearts as the Concert Choir performance filled the recital hall with their voices. A gentle swooning took place as one piece reflecting the holiday spirits traveled among the seats and stairs where the audience were seated followed another. The blending of the sounds created a peace long sought for by those whose hurried and daunting preparations for their not too distant family gatherings leaves them exhausted. This peace allowed a renewal to take place within the hearts of all who experienced it through the magical properties of the performance. You’ll find more photographs in The Forwardian Arts Society Music 2011 Gallery Part 1 at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150134623910421.332199.636000420&type=1 and Part 2 at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150510736315421.429428.636000420&type=1&l=4713dd0bf8.

Future concerts and recitals presented by The East Stroudsburg University of PA Department of Music will include their Winter Concert featuring the University Jazz Ensemble on Thursday December 8th at 7:30pm, a Senior Recital featuring music from Broadway on Friday December 9th at 7pm, their Winter Band Concert on Friday December 11th at 7pm, and a Student Voice Recital featuring the students of James Maroney and Wendy Grice on Tuesday December 13th. Rehearsals for the Spring 2012 Semester Choral Performance begin Tuesday January 24th and all those who would like to participate in the program are welcomed to attend. The performance will take place Wednesday May 2nd. Please contact The East Stroudsburg University Department of Music at 570-422-3483 for more information.