On October 24, at 3 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center, Varsity Voices, Women’s Chorus and Concert Choir hope to put their audience in the fall mood at the annual Coffee Concert. The event will have free admission as well as coffee and tea as refreshments. Activities such as pumpkin carving will also be taking place to raise funds.
Director Jack Phillipson put together the music for this concert with a “coffee shop” meets Halloween theme, but he included a wide variety of genres.
“This year, we have a really cool mix of fun, challenging, classical and modern [music,]” Phillipson said. “Choosing music is the big thing, finding songs that are rewarding for the audience to hear but also fun for all of our choirs to sing.”
The one hour show will include everything from a classical Spanish song sung by Women’s Chorus to a popular Halloween song with choreography and zombie costumes.
Also involved are student choreographers Amara Grajewski, Elaina Shafer and Marc Stoufer III, and Diane Cosby as the piano accompanist. Later concerts will require larger teams involving a full band. Phillipson regards this first concert of the year as the choirs’ chance to announce themselves.
“We had a pop concert outdoors last May, but that’s different. That’s not on stage in our Performing Arts Center,” Phillipson said. “This is the stage we’re used to. [It will be great] to be back and walk out onstage as a conductor for the first time in more than a year and a half.”
As the date approaches, the singers’ nerves may begin to kick in, but Phillipson remains highly optimistic.
“I say this almost every day: the best enemy of nervousness is preparation,” Phillipson said. “We can put it together and make it beautiful, no matter what happens that day. I think we’re going to be prepared.”
Phillipson encourages anyone interested in choir to join, especially after hearing and watching the Coffee Concert.
“You can sing!” Phillipson said. “Maybe you don’t think that right now, but what we do is learn how to sing and work together. You will never be asked to sing by yourself, and it’s such a tight-knit team. It’s definitely a place to get started with music, whether you want it to be a career or a hobby, or just a year to find out what it’s like. Give it a try.”
