URI Concert Choir moves audience in performance return

The University of Rhode Island music department opened the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall’s doors to welcome in audiences and allow the Concert Choir to showcase the talented voices of URI in two languages and many harmonies.

Mark Conley, director of the Concert Choir, said that being online and having to socially distance when in person was challenging for the choir during the earlier phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was their first concert since the start of the pandemic.

“This year feels a lot more like what it felt two years ago, and I just think everybody’s really happy to be back to that,” he said in regards to performing in person again. “It’s been a long time.” 

According to Conley, for about two-thirds of the Concert Choir, this was their first in-person choir performance at URI. 

One of the first-time performers, alto Bianca Zani ’25, said that performing onstage with a live audience after only online performances made her feel “a strange sense of peace.”

“Usually I get nervous sometimes when I’m in a choir, but I wasn’t nervous at all,” Zani said. “Like, I was just comfortable being on stage again.”

To begin the night, the entire choir sang “It Is Good To Be Merry” by Jean Berger, in which a solo was performed by Abby Mills, a soprano. The overlapping repetition and harmonies made this song the perfect start for the evening.

Next, there were three songs performed entirely in French, “Trois Chansons” by Claude Debussy. There was a translation of the poetry read beforehand, and then the choir began to sing.

They first performed “Dieu! Qu’il la fait bon regarder,” which was a song about a beautiful girl. Then, “Quant j’ai ouy le tabourin,” which translates to “when I heard the drum.” Last, “Y’ver, vous n’estes qu’un villain,” which was a song about winter being compared to a villain. 

Solos were performed by Lee Sheridan, Casey Adair, Connor Young and Armando Mirabal. Conley said these songs were rehearsed extensively, and it was easy to tell from how beautiful the French language sounded. 

Conley picked these pieces in order to “expose the students to as many different styles as possible.” He said he wanted to prepare his students that wish to become teachers with many different perspectives, such as French impressionism.

After that, came the piece “I am the Rose of Sharon” by William Billings. This was performed by the entirety of the choir as a beautiful melody which featured intertwining voices and harmonies.

Then, the students performed “Wedding Cantata” by Daniel Pinkham. There were solos performed by Mills and Young during the first song, “Rise Up My Love.” Then, the combined voices of the choir performed “Many Waters,” “Awake, O North Wind” and “Epilogue, Set Me as a Seal.” 

Though each song was beautifully performed, many audience members especially connected with the last song performed, “Perhaps They Are Not Stars,” by Robert Schlidt, which was sung by the entire choir. This was an enchanting piece, and the lyrics were about the love of past family members shining through the sky. 

For audience member Mary B. Hall, who said she had always loved URI’s concerts, the final song brought back memories of her and her late husband. She said that it was her favorite of the night, and the song that had moved her the most.

Overall, the concert was a splendid display of URI’s talented voices.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the work that they’ve done.” Conley said. “I’m really happy for them.”

For more information on the music department’s upcoming events, visit their website