North Central College’s Cardinal Chorus performed their final concert of the season while honoring graduating seniors Tuesday evening at Wentz Concert Hall.
The choir, dressed entirely in black and white, made their entrance above stage on the second floor of the auditorium. Overlooking the audience, the ensemble preformed the first song of the night titled “O Magnum Mysterium,” a Gregorian chant that is sung in Latin and was composed by Tomás Luis de Victoria in 1572.
Directed by Jacqueline Schutt, Visiting Instructor of Music, and accompanied by Jon Warfel, Accompanist and Lecturer of Music, Cardinal Chorus has had a fulfilling season. With three concerts in the fall, all within 16 days of each other, the choir performed at the Homecoming Kick-Off Concert, Explore the Sound VII and the Honors Choral Invitational.
The Explore the Sound concert in particular was Theresa Sterner’s ’18 and Carly Randolph’s ‘18 favorite performance of the season.
“We were able to sing from many locations in Wentz and listen to how our sound changes in different parts of the auditorium,” says Sterner.
“I remember I was really up high so I could see everybody and just being a part of a sound that big made me realize why I wanted to come here for the music program. The whole we are NCC, we are family; I really felt that when I was up there,” says Randolph.
During the winter term, Cardinal Chorus along with Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale and Chamber Singers performed a special concert at the Fourth Presbyterian Church on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.
Sterner and Randolph both recount that their favorite memory of the season was of this specific concert.
“The venue was gorgeous and we were able to explore with friends for a few hours before the concert,” says Sterner.
“The acoustics were beautiful and that was a concert where I think we all felt the sound. It was a very fun experience and a very enlightening experience to be able to perform in that kind of space,” says Randolph.
What sets apart the choir’s Spring Concert from the other performances is the fact that this was Cardinal Chorus’ very own concert.
“When we do the other concerts everybody sings and so we each only get to do maybe three or maybe four pieces if they are not very long. So it was really cool to show off everything that we, as Cardinal Chorus, by ourselves could do,” says Randolph.
The choir sings “Esto Les Digo” composed by Kinley Lange under the direction of Jacqueline Schutt.
Sterner adds that “It shows our audience and ourselves how much we have grown as a choir throughout the year.”
Additionally, the choir was able to perform with just the men and just the women of Cardinal Chorus.
Schutt speaks more on this before the Women of Cardinal Chorus performed “The Moon Is Distant from the Sea” and the Men of Cardinal Chorus performed “Loch Lomond.”
“[Warfel is] much more than just an accompanist. If Jon we’re not a part of this team – none of this would be possible,” says Schutt.
With this opportunity, the choir was able to break into smaller groups and try different things that they may not have time to do in a larger concert throughout the year.
This allowed other leaders to step forward.
“When the men were working with our director and she was giving them notes, we would go off by ourselves as the women and have to do things on our own,” says Randolph.
The singers had to be self-directed and had to figure out what it was that they could do on their own to enhance the sound of the group as a whole.
Sterner and Randolph both agree that they are going to miss the friendships formed this academic year in Cardinal Chorus the most.
“We definitely bonded as a group and definitely as a choir,” says Sterner.
“I feel like every year Cardinal Chorus changes because it is the choir that all freshman are in their first year, but they can choose to go to other choirs after that. Some people stay, some people don’t. So it won’t be the same group ever again and these were a really cool group of people that I got to know really well. We were kind of like a big Cardinal Chorus family and I will definitely miss them,” says Randolph.
