By Simone Harshaw
Review
On Feb. 21, as the lights dimmed on the Wentz Concert Hall stage, candles illuminated the faces of the Woman’s Chorale as their voices took over the air, commencing this year’s “Explore The Sound.”
Conceptualized and directed by Ramona Wis, “Explore The Sound” is an innovative concert that has become an annual event presented by the North Central Fine Arts Program. This performance not only brings together both vocal and instrumental elements, but also doesn’t limit them to the stage; rather the audience becomes surrounded by these talented groups throughout the entire concert hall.
“Of Spirits and Places” was the theme that flowed throughout the performance this year, songs ranging across different genres as well as languages that included Latin, German and Balinese.
From the balcony, to the aisles, to the stage, audience member’s heads eagerly turned to the sounds appearing all around them, and in the cases when certain positions didn’t allow for a visual, just to sit and listen to the music flow around me, as each song eased into the next was a neat experience.
Many of the vocal pieces incorporated fun theatrical elements, from laughter and facial expressions thrown towards the audience to rhythmic pounding on the stage. One piece that nearly had me singing along was an acapella version of Lorde’s song “Royals”, performed by the women of the Chamber Singers. They stood around a piano and sang like a group of long time friends together enjoying what they love to do. This sense of passion for music was evident in every piece performed; it was something that could not only be seen but also heard.
As the performance came to an end all the talented groups that played a part in making this concert come together: The Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale, Chamber Singers, Woodwind Quintet and Chamber String ensemble, gathered on the stage and balcony to perform a group piece titled “Hope for Resolution”, a piece that celebrated Black History Month and Nelson Mandela’s legacy.
“I love how all the groups came together at the end; it was a power piece that gave me chills,” an audience member commented.
As the vocalists took each others hands as the song was coming to end, audience members got to their feet for a standing ovation.
