By Christina Cronin,
VPA Marketing and PR Intern
With over 100 singers from the Chorale past and present bringing their voices together, the 30th Reunion Concert of the WSU Chorale will deliver a sound that reaches the rooftops and raises those goosebumps.
The Worcester State Chorale members past and present are preparing for their 30th Anniversary Reunion Concert at All Saints Episcopal Church on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 4 p.m.
Chorale Director Christie Nigro first formed the Chorale in 1989. “I saw that there was no advanced singing group here at WSU and no a capella experience,” said Nigro. “I wanted WSU students to gain that experience.”
One of the struggles with starting the Chorale, Nigro admitted, was finding enough men to sing. “There is sometimes a stigma for guys who sing,” said Nigro. “Right now, though, I have a pretty even balance of men and women.”
Over the next 30 years, the Chorale doubled in size with more incoming students wanting to continue their high school experience.
Member Katherine Wagner joined the Chorale because she was a part of her high school choir and wanted to continue singing and performing in college. “My experience with the Chorale has exceeded all of my expectations of the group. It is like having a second family,” said Wagner. “Everyone in the group is super welcoming, and everyone makes you feel comfortable with your voice.”
Dakota Hinerth joined the Chorale a few semesters ago after learning about the group from a classmate. This was Hinerth’s first time joining a Chorale group. “Being in the Chorale has been one of the most fun learning experiences I’ve had at Worcester State,” said Hinerth. “The people I’ve met through this group have quickly become some of my absolute best friends, and I’ve also learned a great deal about music and singing in a group.”
For Chorale president and nursing major Mallory Breen, the Chorale is the place for her to destress from her intense coursework and show off her love for singing. “We are all so supportive of each other and happy to be singing together. I love going to Chorale,” said Breen.
Being a Chorale member gives its members the chance to make new memories and live new experiences. The Reunion Concert welcomes back alumni who were members of the Chorale during their time at Worcester State.
Through a full day of events, past and current members share their memories and experiences — finding commonality in calling the Chorale a family.
To orchestrate the reunion, Nigro worked with Alumni Relations in locating alumni and planning the performance. “The alums love to come back and sing. It sounds like they never left,” said Nigro. She expects over 100 singers to return for the event, some members returning from areas such as Arizona, California, and Tennessee.
The day of the performance represents a whole day of reunion activities including a meet and greet brunch, the 4 p.m. performance and a reunion dinner.
The rest of their time together consists of the members of the Chorale rehearsing for their performance later that afternoon. It is the first time that all the members performing will be performing at once.
“I am looking forward to hearing how we all sound as a group, as everyone in the Chorale is so talented and brings so much to the music,” said Breen. “It will be so cool to hear all the voices, and the group is going to be very large, so it will be awesome to hear the sound we can make all together. I am excited to see how the music comes together once we are all together practicing.”
The performance consists of past songs the Chorale performed, including “Shenandoah” by Bob Dylan, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John, “Fix You” by Coldplay, “Ubi Caritas” by Durufle, and “A Capella Overtures.” Through visual media, the performance also highlights past Chorale experiences, including international tours, fundraisers, singing valentines, Friends of Chorale, and many more memories that past and present members shared.
“I think the biggest takeaway for me is just that the love for music will never go away,” said Breen.
The Reunion Concert takes place at All Saints Episcopal Church in Worcester on Saturday, Oct. 26, beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more information and to buy tickets, contact Christie Nigro at cnigro@worcester.edu