[tribulant_slideshow gallery_id=”12″] Encapsulated in the spirit of unity, and matriculating down from the core of love on Valentine’s Day, were the melodious sounds of the Saint Leo Chamber Singers and Just the Facts. The groups performed Feb. 15 in the Black Box Theatre and presented the theme “Sweethearts.”
Scores of persons from the local community, members of staff, students, and their family members teemed into the room for a night they would not soon forget. Jennifer Orendorf, administrator of events and special programs, opened the event and served as compere giving small amounts of history on each piece of music sung.
A myriad of heartwarming pieces, such as Burt Bacharach’s, “What the world needs now is love” and Dolly Parton’s “And I will always love you,” kept the audience on the edge of their seats. The heterophonic sounds, coupled with the dynamics of a warmly lit room, continued to swell the hearts of the attendees for the hour of the concert.
One of the pieces, “Bill” by Jerome Kern, performed by Olivia Callahan, entertained the crowd beyond measure. The ballad told the story of a woman that could not give a single reason why she loved a man named Bill. Callahan’s strong alto voice pierced the hearts of the audience while her mannerisms created a completely new layer to the piece, communicating in totality the woman’s obsession.
Similarly, Rosemary Lucyx gave a stellar performance of Zina Goldrich’s “Taylor the latte boy,” about a woman highly infatuated with her local Barista. Lucyx’s performance, much like Callahan’s, gave a humorous yet powerful message about one of the many manifestations of love.
Another notable performance from the night came from Yohana Fasida, who performed “Latch” by Sam Smith. Yohana wowed the crowd as he began in his baritone voice and progressed to a rich falsetto that, like the other performances, solicited thunderous applause.
The night was filled with song after song creating an impalpable bond between lovers, friends, and family alike. Julisa Vinas, first time visitor to BlackBox Theatre, lauded the event and applauded its organization and ability to take her back in time while sticking to its theme.
Vinas said, “I liked that they maintained the culture and tradition of the songs from the past, so the youth of today can live and experience them in the same way that the past generations have enjoyed.”
Orendorf said, “Our expectations for attendance for the performance were 60 people, and we superseded that! The performers work so hard throughout the year, and it is always encouraging to see them perform for a captive and appreciative audience. I was pleased to see a very even blend of members from our local community, family and friends of the performers, and Saint Leo faculty and students.”
Looking forward, Orendorf lists a heavy agenda for the School of Arts and Sciences. “We’d certainly love to see our music fans turn out for the Canta Italia Concert that will be held on Mar. 8 at 7 pm in the Abbey Church. It’s going to be a performance of the sacred choral music program that Saint Leo Singers International will take on the road for the spring break tour of Italy! Our hometown fans get to see the program first in a beautiful church setting with wonderful acoustics. We’re also very excited about our visiting Woodrow Wilson Fellows Reggie and Kim Harris, from the Council of Independent Colleges.”
The Harris’ performance will serve as a part of the school of Arts and Sciences celebration of Black History Month.
