Photo gallery: Fall choral showcase features student talent

Music filled the air in Aalfs Auditorium Sunday night as the USD concert, chamber and mixed choirs combined for the fall choral showcase.

The men’s and women’s choir, directed by assistant professor of voice and choir Tim Campbell, consists of 80 students and community members. They sang everything from Bach’s “Chorale from Cantana 80, Ein feste Burg”  to “True Light” by Keith Hampton.

Nick McKie, a senior member of the concert and chamber choir, said his favorite song of the night was “Ubi Caritas.”

“It’s based on a chant and I really like singing chants,” McKie said. “The fact we can all sing it together… Dr. Campbell doesn’t really even need to conduct us. It’s emotionally connected to that same rhythm, and there’s beautiful chords in there.”

The concert choir followed with “In Virtute Tua,” accompanied by Rawlins trio violinist professor Ioana Galu and concertmaster of the USD symphony orchestra Shengho Wang, along with Rawlins trio cellist Rebecca Zimmerman.

They sang a couple more songs and finished with “Loch Lomond,” where junior Seth Brick performed a solo.

Elizabeth Wensmann, a senior member of the concert and chamber choir,  said her favorite song was “Loch Lomond.”

“I really like ‘Loch Lomond’ — It has a lot of different elements to it,” Wensmann said. “More of the somber side, and there’s a separate side to it. (The song) starts off with a solo, and then it goes off into separate men’s and women’s parts. It’s then three part divided, and I think those are really beautiful and they show off the sections really well. Then you get into the main theme and you get into this dance section and it’s really fun and joyful, yet somber.”

The chamber choir, directed by David Holdhusen, director of choral activities, started the night with “O Sifuni Mungu” arranged by David Maddux. They sang five more songs, each song showcasing different intervals and rhythms. They ended their ensemble with gospel song “Witness.”

Campbell said the performance was a night of connection.

“There’s a human element that’s connective through everyone too, it’s not just about us performing and impressing but it’s about the connection about some different pieces,” Campbell said. “There’s something everyone can connect with if they’re open and searching for it.”