The 2013 Winter Choral Concert at ESU

The East Stroudsburg University (ESU) of PA Music Department presented their Winter Choral Concert in The Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall which is located within the Campus’ Fine and Performing Arts Center on Wednesday December 4th. Throughout the concert, the university’s A Cappella Ensemble and Concert Choir performed of a variety of seasonal compositions which were pleasing to the ear. Both groups consist of Students, faculty members, and residents of the local community whose voices blended beautifully together chorally while those members who served as soloist enhanced the performance through their uncanny vocal qualities.

The A Cappella Ensemble began the concert which was under the direction of Associate Professor James Maroney. A thoughtful beauty touched the ear of all who experienced the performance as one song after another was draped in the elegance of the ensemble’s voices. The selections ranged from the European Classical to American Folk as well as pieces traditional to the holiday season. Soloists Becky Roeber, Shaun Copeland, Marcus Howard, and Elena Zarvos created a vocal nuance to each piece they participated in allowing the audience to discover qualities in the composition which might had otherwise been overlooked.

After the ensemble’s performance concluded, there were several announcements made in regard to the gathering. One of which referred to an invitation the group received to give a command performance for a nationally known head of state in his residence. However, since it has been deemed that the details of the performance must remain secretive for the time being, it might be inappropriate reveal them in this article. Yet, they deserve a great number of congratulatory sentiments for the honor that has been bestowed upon them and I’m sure many who read this will be glad to do so even without knowing what it is.

After a brief intermission, the East Stroudsburg University’s Concert Choir entered the hall along with Associate Professor James Maroney who led this group of music lovers as well. A recital hall filled beyond capacity greeted the singers with a great deal of enthusiasm as its members took their places upon the stage. The performance began with a composition written by Johannes Brahms titled, “O Schone Naucht” and continued to flow through one musical ebb after another. Soloists Becky Roeber, Charles Hueber, Rodney Young, Sophia Thompson, and Laura Beimfohr lent their talents to a number of selections. A smaller choir was formed for the Frantz Biebl composition titled, “Ave Maria” consisting of Tara Nylander, Carol Demarest (who served as a soloist), Andrea Reiter, Sophia Thompson, Jacqueline Prestoy, Victoria Oberdick, Shaun Copland, and Marcus Howard (who served as a soloist).

The magnificent concert concluded with Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Te Deum” with the choir being accompanied by Cellist Audrey Simons, Charlie Cahn on Timpani, and by Pauline Fox (who also served as the choral accompanist on Piano) on organ. The conclusion of the piece led to a grateful applause which echoed throughout the entire Performing Arts Center. Many excited conversations evolved around the satisfying performance as friends and families of the participants eagerly awaited their emergence from their gathering places located behind the scenes to congratulate them with celebration of their achievement. You’ll be able to find more photographs taken during the East Stroudsburg University’s Winter Choral Concert in The ESU 2013 Gallery at  www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151870080355421.636000420&type=3.

The East Stroudsburg University of PA Music Department next musical presentations will be their Tuba Christmas concert held at The Pocono Inne Town in Stroudsburg, PA on Saturday December 7th, their Winter Band Concert in The Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall which will be held on Sunday December 8th, and the student voice recitals featuring the students of James Maroney and Wendy Grice will be held on Tuesday December 10th. The next Choral Concert will be their Spring Choral Concert scheduled to take place on Wednesday April 30th in The Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall. Students and faculty along with members of the community are invited to participate. Rehearsals take place every Tuesday evening from 7:15pm until 9:15pm beginning Tuesday January 21st, 2014. Please Explore The ESU Choral and Vocal Website at www.esu.edu/music/sing or The ESU Vocal Performing Arts Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/ESU-Vocal-Performing-Arts/103816162994926 for more information.