WashU Choirs present "Woven Song: A Choral Journey through American History"
Travel through the American story as told by its voices. This program traces the evolution of choral music in the United States - from folk songs and spirituals to contemporary compositions - revealing how communities have expressed identity, struggle, hope, and change through song. Each piece offers a window into a particular moment in time, together forming a rich tapestry of sound that reflects the nation’s complexity and resilience. Featuring the WashU Concert Choir and Chamber Choir with guest faculty performers Erin Haupt and Dana Hotle, as well as student instrumentalists.
Program
Concert Choir
Idumea (2010) by Ananais Davisson (1780-1857) Arr. Richard Bjella
Claire Yi and Caroloine Ladendorf, violins
Evelyn Nedelciuc, cello
Is Any Afflicted? (2002) by William Billings (1746-1800)
Peace I Leave With You (2021) by Amy Beach (1867-1944)
The Year’s at the Spring, Op. 44, No. 1 (1900) by Amy Beach (1867-1944)
Erin Haupt, mezzo-soprano
Yeon-Kyung Kim, piano
Shenandoah (1975) Arr. James Erb (1925-2014)
Erin Haupt, soloist
Zion’s Walls (1954) by Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Arr. Glenn Koponen (1943-2021)
Chamber Choir
Poor Man Lazrus (1950) Arr. Jester Hairston (1901-2000)
Acquaintance With Nature (2002) by Gwyneth Walker (b. 1947)
Dana Hotle, clarinet, and Nicholas Chiu, narrator
Alena Wadzinske, Meghan Elliot, Jared Berger, and Aaron Miller, soloists
More Waters Rising (2025) by Saro Lynch-Thomason, Arr. Adam and Matt Podd
Abi Wileman and Nicholas Chiu, soloists
Kian Eghtesady, snare drum,
and Christian Kim, bass drum
Concert Choir
Deep River (1913) Arr. H. T. Burleigh (1866-1949)
March Down to Jordan (2025) by Nolawi Araya
Flight (2021) by Craig Carnella (b. 1949) Arr. Ryan Murphy (b. 1971)
Claire Yi and Caroline Ladendorf, violin
Emily Updike, viola
Evelyn Nedelciuc, cello
Melissa Parkinson, double bass
The Best of All Possible Worlds (1975) by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), Arr. Robert Page