Saturday's Chorale Concert Designed for Variety and Fun

April 29th, 2011

By Betsy Reich

CONTACT:

David Halbrook Patrick Henry College (540) 441-8722 OfficeOfCommunications@phc.edu

The Patrick Henry College Chorale performs at the College's recent Tenth Anniversary dinner

This Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 7-8pm, come to Patrick Henry College’s Barbara Hodel Center to enjoy the Music Department’s Spring 2011 concert: “Now is the Time for Maying!” Featuring the PHC Chorale, PHC Chamber Orchestra, and small group performances from members of ensembles, it will be a free, fun, refreshing, and humorous concert that is bound to leave you happy that you came.

There will be an energetic and engaging wide variety of music, including a piece from Pirates of the Caribbean, a rousing rendition of the Lord of the Dance, jigs, folk music, and French love songs, interspersed with individual student acts. With about 45 people participating altogether, music styles and performers will change consistently from piece to piece.

“This is new for us,” comments Dr. McCollum, PHC’s Director of Music, “We have never done anything like this before.”

In his fifth year as the PHC Chorale director, Dr. McCollum has been blessed to see the group truly turn into a collegiate ensemble. It has taken a lot of hard work over the last five years he has served at PHC, alongside his other duties teaching classes, overseeing the Chapel Guild, creating curriculum, and directing the growing music department.

“I’ve been impressed by how they now have a collegiate literature level of expertise for this age and stage,” he comments. “We are presenting an artistic product that is congruent with the high academic achievement of the rest of the school.”

McCollum would also like to encourage teenagers to apply for this summer’s Music Camp at PHC, which will run from June 27-July 1. Meanwhile, the entire music department welcomes the local community to this Saturday’s concert.