Concert commemorates 200 years of Mendelssohn

The Mendelssohn Bicentennial Celebration concert had the First Baptist Church of Milledgeville packed full of people Oct. 17. The concert was presented by the Georgia College Orchestra, University Chorus, Women’s Ensemble and Max Noah Singers.

Both the pews and balcony were full, with people even standing along the back wall to hear Felix Mendelssohn’s famous works performed.

Mendelssohn was a conservative German composer, musician and conductor of the 19th century.

Dr. Jennifer Flory, the director of choral activities and an assistant professor of music, chose to honor Mendelssohn because 2009 would have included his 200th birthday.

She also chose Mendelssohn because of his presence during the Romantic period, the only period yet to be spotlighted by a chorus concert.

Flory conducted the three choruses, while Dr. Daniel Kaplunas conducted the Georgia College Orchestra. This is not the first concert that brought the orchestra and choruses together.

The University Chorus and Georgia College Orchestra worked together to bring about the finale piece, “Hymne.” The University Chorus is made up of over 70 students with varying majors, while Max Noah Singers and Women’s Ensemble both have around 20 students each.

“The University Chorus is doing the most singing,” Flory said. “They meet twice a week. The others meet once.”

Flory acted as both a conductor and a soloist during the concert. “He, Watching over Israel” was her favorite piece to conduct, while she loved singing the third movement of the “Hymne” the most.

Maegan Underwood, a junior music therapy major, sang at the concert as a part of the University Choir and the Max Noah Singers.

Underwood’s favorite piece to sing was also “Hymne” “because of the orchestra added with it.”

Rosie Riquelme, a senior music education major, is a violinist for the Georgia College Orchestra and the concertmistress. She took the necessary time outside of class to practice on her own time.

“I practice four days a week, an hour each session,” Riquelme said.

Riquelme most liked the violin concerto because of the “unbelievable” soloist Juhee Lee.

Lee, a professional soloist from Chung-Ju, Korea, joined the Georgia College Orchestra during the first movement of E Minor Violin Concerto. Her solo ended with a standing ovation from the audience. She has been playing the violin since the age of 6.

Admission was free, but donations were accepted on behalf of the American Heart Association.

“Mendelssohn died of a series of strokes,” Flory said. “I researched charities involving strokes and found the American Stroke Association, a branch of that. I wanted to give it to the larger association.”

There will be a concert Nov. 7 with the Max Noah Singers presenting Disney Delights, and the GCSU Music Department Holiday Concert on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 23 2009. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry