By Ella Prieto, Editor-in-Chief
On Friday, the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College presented the 2025 Fall Choir Concert in Christ Chapel. Director of Choral Activities Dr. Robert Natter conducted, with Scott Crowne and Tim Foster accompanying on Piano. It occurred over Family Weekend, allowing a plethora of families to see their students perform.
To kick off the event, the Concert Choir performed “Tyger” written by William Blake and arranged by Elaine Hagenberg, a rising star in the choir world. They followed with two spirituals, “My Lord, What a Mornin’” arranged by Harry T. Burleigh and “Come and Go to That Land” arranged by Brandon Boyd. Natter explained that these spirituals were from the period of slavery in the 19th century.
“Music is very beautiful, but there’s also a legacy behind it that gives it another dimension,” elucidated Natter.
Audeamus, the college’s upper-voice choir, took over with a performance of “Koudjay” by Sydney Guillaume, sung in Haitian Creole. “Song of Miriam”, also arranged by Elaine Hagenberg and featuring lyrics by Rabbi Ruth Sohn, was next, along with “Lorelei” by Clara Schumann and arranged by Brandon Williams. “Lorelei” was performed in German, which had a “spooky” theme of a siren causing a boatman to crash to match the Halloween season. They concluded with “Crowded Table” arranged by Andrea Ramsey, featuring a solo from Kacy Hartmann ’27 and a fiddle accompaniment by Lindy Harris ’29.
Students in Audeamus performing. (Photo William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
Camerata, the small vocal chamber group, followed Audeamus, performing “Savor So” by Darmon Meader. Natter described Camerata as specializing in all kinds of music, from modern music to jazz. They showed off their skills with “Flora gave me fairest flowers” by John Wilbye and “Weep, O Mine Eyes” by John Bennet. “Cheek to Cheek” by Irving Berlin, arranged by Kirby Shaw, concluded their set, highlighting their jazz skills.
College Choir followed the romance theme set by Camerata with their songs “World, I cannot Hold Thee Close Enough” by Colin Britt, “O Schöne Nacht” by Johannes Brahms and “Sweetheart of the Sun” by Eric William Barnum. Their final piece, Daemon Irrepit Callidus, by György Orbán and sung in Latin, was another contribution to the “spooky” season,
Students of the College Choir performing. (Photo William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
To conclude the concert, College Choir and Concert Choir came together to perform selections from their Winter Concert “Illuminare”, taking place Dec. 5 at 8 PM in Christ Chapel.
