The Troy University Concert Chorale will hold its first live, in-person performance in two years, “Gloria!” on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. at Park Memorial United Methodist Church.
The free concert explores advent and the Christmas themes of joy, peace and celebration of new life and features all seasonal songs. After such a difficult year, professor of music and Director of Choirs Dr. Diane Orlofsky said she didn’t want to sing “any sad songs” and instead wanted the performance to be a celebration of strength and new beginnings.
“As I sat down to chronicle the Concert Chorale’s journey these past two years, the words ‘resiliency’ and ‘dedication’ seemed the most appropriate descriptions,” she said. “While families all over the globe were coping with separation and loss, so too were the members of the Chorale family. Yet, the music lived on. It cheered us, united us, it sustained us and it motivated us. That is why we are beyond thrilled, after two years, to finally be able to sing in person for an audience. I built a program around the word ‘Gloria’ as it captures our hope for a better day and our joy in making music together.”
The last in-person performance was the Sounds of the Season concert in December 2019. After live music events were suspended indefinitely due to the onset of COVID-19 in the states, Orlofsky’s group—and other ensembles across the department—continued to make music together virtually and persevered through distance and mask requirements, sanitization measures, shortened rehearsal times and smaller performance groups. As time went on, they found ways to include quarantined students into live rehearsals and were even able to deliver a short livestream performance this past spring.
In keeping with the recommended practices for choral singing, masks will be worn by singers and will also be required for attendees. The show is expected to last less than an hour.
“We are working very hard to make everyone feel comfortable. Re-entry for different people means different things, but we want everyone to know we’re doing everything we can do to make them feel comfortable,” Orlofsky said. “We want people to come and celebrate with these kids that we have all made it this far, that we’ve all lost people that we care about, but that there is solace and optimism in music. It’s sustained these kids. It’s hope for the future.”
The Concert Chorale is the premier vocal ensemble in the School of Music whose members represent many different fields of study from across the University.
