Kat Simonelli
Staff Writer
The ULV Chamber Singers and Gospel Ensemble performed their last concert of the semester Tuesday in Morgan Auditorium.
The choirs sang pieces entitled “The Jazz 150th,” “Vita De La Mia Vita,” “Elijah Rock,” “Go Down Moses,” “Bullerengue,” and their rendition of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Freshman communications major Timothy May sang George Gershwin’s “It Ain’t Necessarily So” solo with a background chorus and assistant director Ernest R. Reyes leading the song. May’s jazzy tenor solo was supported by the choir as they scatted along with him during the chorus.
The singers were accompanied by Reed Gratz and freshman music major Caelin Eager on piano, sophomore music Phillip Greenwood on percussion and sophomore biology major David Vorobyov on bass.
“My favorite songs were ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’ and ‘Go Down Moses;’ they appealed to me and out of all of the songs they sounded the best,” junior Coleman Goode said.
After a ten minute intermission, the Gospel Ensemble came on stage with Director James Calhoun accompanying on the piano and sang “Praise His Holy Name,” “My Life, My Love, My All,” “Dwell in the House,” “I Will Sing Praises,” and Calhoun joined them in singing “Total Praise” to conclude the concert.
“I was a little disappointed when I only saw five people up there, but they were amazing,” La Verne resident Joy Hofer said.
Their harmonies and a capella techniques helped them capture the audience’s attention.
“They were so into it and so sincere and really with the music. All five of them were on the entire time, it was great,” said Hofer.
“I think my favorite part of it was just seeing the expressions on everyone’s faces and seeing that they were all really into the music,” Hacienda Heights resident Monica Molinaro said.
The performers rehearsed twice a week for two hours at a time under Calhoun’s direction in order to prepare for the show.
“I feel bittersweet. It’s nice that it’s finally over, but I look forward to next semester where I’ll be doing some big things with the choir as a part of my senior project,” junior music major and performer Emmanuel Lagumbay said.
Kat Simonelli can be reached at kathryn.simonelli@laverne.edu.
