Southern Adventist University’s Bel Canto and Die Meistersinger choirs collaborated with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera (CSO) Chorus to perform Francis Poulenc’s Gloria on October 19 in downtown Chattanooga’s historic Tivoli Theater.
 

The idea for this partnership was first proposed by CSO Chorus Director Darrin Hassevort, who sang the tenor role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with Southern’s choirs and Symphony Orchestra in the spring of 2016.



This was the first time in recent history that the combined group of 80 students in Southern’s choral ensembles performed together off campus.
 


“We usually prepare a difficult work like this for a Christmas performance,” said Gennevieve Brown-Kibble, Southern’s director of choral activities. “Although we have had less than normal time to rehearse, I am very proud to see how well the students rose to the occasion.”



Southern’s classical music radio station, WSMC Classical 90.5, hosted a pre-concert reception that was open to all ticket holders and also recorded the entire concert.



“Our choirs were able to sing alongside seasoned professionals with one of the region’s most accomplished orchestras and performed with exceptional musicality and poise,” said Tyler Rand, social innovation manager at WSMC. “I hope collaborations like these signal a new focus on community collaboration and engagement across our entire university.”