MC Concert Choir to perform at World’s Fair Park in Knoxville April 18
March 26, 2021
The Maryville College Concert Choir and small ensembles Off Kilter, Lads and Lassies will present a concert, titled “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” at the Tennessee Amphitheater at World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville, Tenn., on Sunday, April 18 at 6 p.m.
The performance is open to the public; however, seating is limited, due to social distancing measures, so tickets are required. Tickets, which will be available for purchase on March 31, are $15 each and must be purchased in sets of two, due to COVID spacing requirements. To purchase tickets, please visit claytonartscenter.com or call the Clayton Center Box Office at 865-981-8590. For those who are unable to attend in-person, the event will be live-streamed. Tickets for live-streaming access are $10 each (these tickets will be noted differently on the Clayton Center website).
Directors are Stacey Murphy Wilner, director of choral activities and associate director Alan Eleazer, assisted by accompanists Chase Hatmaker ’14 and Kate Wogoman, and choir assistant Hannah White Strong ’18. Percussionist Amber Nejme-Hatmaker ’16 will serve as a guest instrumentalist.
The concert will feature selections that have proven inspiring to the students during the challenges that COVID-19 safety measures have placed on choristers worldwide. During the performance, the students in the choirs will be distanced eight feet and will wear masks designed specifically for singing.
The program will include “Unclouded Day” arr. Shawn Kirchner, “How can I keep from singing?” by Sarah Quartel, “I Will Arise and Go” by Shawn Kirchner and “Hard Times” Stephen Foster/arr. Nick Johnson.
“Singing together is an act of community, which makes a choir a type of adopted family,” Wilner said. “Members have to work together, to accept each other, regardless of musical experience or diversity of background. Members of a choir have to develop listening skills, establish trust in each other to express ideas and perspectives, and be confident enough to make mistakes. Choirs are such closely knit units that singers even practice breathing together.”
Social distancing and masks greatly impacted all of those processes, she said.
“At the beginning of the academic year, we were all surprised by feelings of uncertainty and nervousness that made life in our ‘choir family’ a very different experience than in the past,” Wilner continued. “Gradually, the situation changed as staff and students worked together to navigate multiple issues to find new ways to challenge ourselves and develop musical and personal connections. This year has actually turned out to be a time of great personal growth. We are excited to be able to host an outdoor concert so that we may safely share the music that has kept us inspired. Choristers and staff are appreciative to the administration of Maryville College and the staff of the Clayton Center for the Arts for their continued and creative support of the choral ensembles throughout this 2020-21 academic year.”
Social distancing and masks will be required for attendees, as well as for performers. For more information, contact Hannah White Strong at hannah.white@maryvillecollege.edu or Stacey Wilner at Stacey.wilner@maryvillecollege.edu