At their recent Winter Concert, hundreds packed into St. Ignatius Church to hear the University Chorale of Boston College sing several pieces written by composers such as Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, and Aaron Copland.

The University Chorale is a student-run organization at Boston College consisting of over 150 students who perform classical music pieces throughout the year and throughout the world.

St. Ignatius was filled for the concert, and those arriving late could barely find a seat in the Church filled with students, family, and guests.

Matthew O’Connell, president of the University Chorale Executive Board, explained in an e-mail that “there is something so incredible about hearing over 150 voices collaborating to produce such a powerful and effective sound that cannot be replicated by any of the other music groups on campus.”

“For this concert, the Chorale combined a variety of pieces that have been in our repertoire for years as well as brand new pieces that many of the members have never sung before,” said O’Connell.

Three psalms composed by Mozart, “Laudate pueri Dominum,” “Laudate Dominum,” and “Dixit Dominus,” were performed, each with a distinctive tone (the solemn “Laudate pueri,” the solo soprano in “Laudate Dominum,” and the lively “Dixit Dominus”), but all concluding with the traditional doxology, “Gloria Patri…” since they were composed for Vespers, or Evening Prayer.  At the Chorale’s spring concert, all of the psalms from Mozart’s “Vesperae solennes de confessore” will be performed.

Two pieces by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy were performed, “Verleih uns Frieden” and “Laudate pueri Dominum.”  In contrast to Mozart’s solemn “Laudate pueri Dominum,” Mendelssohn’s version of the psalm was smooth and melodious.

Concluding the performance, the Chorale sung four American hymns: “Zion’s Walls” and “Simple Gifts,” arranged by Aaron Copland, “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” arranged by William Dawson, and “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” arranged by Mack Wilberd.

Abby Shaughnessy, vice-president of the University Chorale, said in an e-mail that her favorite song to sing is “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”

“It is an American Spiritual that is sung during our spring break tour and at the end of every spring concert. It has a nostalgic feeling, being the last song sung every year by chorale. If you have a chance of being in the audience for that song at the spring concert, you’ll definitely find a few teary choralers singing that song!” she explained.

O’Connell said that the preparation for a concert such as this takes many weeks of practice, “Our concerts involve much more than just learning the music. They involve meshing as a group of over 150 members to create a cohesive sound where every voice contributes to put forth one, powerful experience for our audiences.”

Shaughnessy agreed. “There really is no down time for chorale. We began rehearsals for this concert—and our Germany tour—the second week we got back from Christmas break,” she said.

John Finney, who, for seventeen years, has led the group in performances in Boston, New York City, Dublin, Madrid, Prague, Rome, and Vienna directs the University Chorale.  In 1999, he was given the title “Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at Boston College.”

Organist Jacob Street, a student at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, accompanied the Chorale on the organ for the Winter Concert.  He has toured with the University Chorale at Boston College in Ireland, Spain, and Rome.

“By definition, we are a formal choir with international experience, having performed at St. Peter’s Basilica among various other notable venues abroad, that performs classical pieces. However, in essence, we are so much more. We are a group of students led by a fantastically talented director that brings a distinctly cohesive, classical voice to the BC music scene,” said O’Connell.

The Chorale performs several concerts throughout the academic year.  They will be touring in Berlin, Germany and Munich, Germany during spring break, and will perform again at Boston College on Saturday, April 24 at 8:00pm in Trinity Chapel on Newton Campus for their Spring Concert.

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