{"id":50737,"date":"2021-11-15T14:04:49","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T19:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=50737"},"modified":"2021-11-30T10:50:09","modified_gmt":"2021-11-30T15:50:09","slug":"emu-musicians-and-the-string-queens-inspire-at-2021-gala-concert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2021\/emu-musicians-and-the-string-queens-inspire-at-2021-gala-concert\/","title":{"rendered":"EMU musicians and The String Queens inspire at 2021 Gala Concert"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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With photos by Rachel Holderman<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to EMU students, community contributors and faculty David Berry, Benjamin Bergey, Kyle Remnant<\/strong>, James Richardson <\/strong>and Kimberly Souther <\/strong>for an amazing night of music inspired by the themes of peace and joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dynamic Washington D.C.-based trio The String Queens<\/a> were special guests, adding EMU to a stunning list of prior concerts. Already in 2021, the trio have headlined the presidential and vice-presidential inauguration celebration and partnered with ESPN for a global promotional campaign<\/a> of Wimbledon tennis tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimberlea Daggy<\/strong> of WMRA’s All Things Considered reprised her role as event host. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

View the livestream recording.<\/a> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The concert is a fundraiser for the EMU Music Scholarship Fund. Donate and find the concert program here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Afton Rhodes-Lehman<\/strong>, soprano (below), and Professor James Richardson<\/strong>, baritone, were the featured vocalists, for a performance of Dona Nobis Pacem, <\/em>composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Bergey conducted the Chamber Orchestra and University Choir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bergey selected the masterwork for its theme of a cry for peace, a fitting celebration of EMU\u2019s new program enabling students to combine peacebuilding and music studies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Williams, a pacifist who served in World War I in the medical corps and as an artillery officer, composed the work in 1936 \u2013 and it was his \u201ccry that a second [war] would not break out,\u201d Bergey said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bergey described the piece as \u201cpowerful and raw, depicting the ugliness of war using drums as artillery, the sounds of a funeral march and screaming in the face of death. But within it, while coming face to face with death and war, there comes the realization of a shared humanity, even across enemy lines. This humanity is also capable of things much greater, more admirable, and even [like] that which we are called to in scripture.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bergey ended his introduction with a reminder that more than 40 conflicts are ongoing throughout the world: \u201cMay we continue to work for peace across our shared humanity. This is our hope and this performance is just a part of our work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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EMU\u2019s Wind Ensemble, directed by Professor Kyle Remnant in his conducting debut, performed selections \u201cThe Cutting of the Hay\u201d by Percy Aldridge Grainger and \u201cBeyond the Summit,\u201d by Brian Balmages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The String Queens<\/strong> \u2013 \u00c9lise Sharp (cello), Kendall Isadore (violin), and Dawn Johnson (viola) \u2013 performed several selections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Jazz Band, with Remnant, performed music by Glenn Miller, James van Heusen, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie. Soloists were <\/p>\n\n\n\n