The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was filled with the light and warmth of music of the De La Salle Chapel Choir Spring Concert on Saturday, April 25.
Under the direction of John Lewis, MEd, and with accompaniment by Emily Brands, the eight voices of the De La Salle Chapel Choir ushered in their spring concert, Hallowed Be, with passion and purpose. The performance was dedicated to finding divinity and spirituality in music through a variegated landscape transcending the boundaries, which separate the sacred from the secular.
In this third year of the La Salle University concert tradition at the Basilica Shrine, the De La Salle Chapel Choir welcomed special guests the Hill Singers from Chestnut Hill College, a partnership born out of a connection made with Sr. Kathleen McCloskey from Chestnut Hill College, according to Lewis.
Part One: De La Salle Chapel Choir
The program began with a lively and reverent performance by the De La Salle Chapel Choir, accompanied by pianist Brands and percussionists Alyssa Ascher and David Lerner ’25. It included the following selections:
- Come to the Living Stone (S. Warner)
- Christ the Lord Is Risen Again (P. Stopford)
- The Lord Bless You and Keep You (J. Rutter)
- O Sacrum Convivium (G. Susana)
- Were You There (Spiritual, arr. B. Chilcott)
- Cheerleader (O. Pasley, M. Bradford, C. Dillon, R. Dillon, and S. Dunbar, arr. Lewis)
Part Two: The Hill Singers
This year’s spring concert special guests were the Hill Singers. Director Don Holdren, with Accompanist Matt Esposito, along with the 12 beautifully blended voices of the Hill Singers, contributed three songs, which provided texture and an additional vibrant energy to the spirited afternoon concert. The selections performed by the Hill Singers included:
- Sing Out, My Soul (M. Garrett)
- My Song in the Night (E. Hagenberg)
- Nothin’ Gonna Stumble My Feet (G. Gilpin)
Part Three: De La Salle Chapel Choir
The De La Salle Chapel Choir returned to the altar with soul-stirring renditions of:
- And Can It Be (D. Forrest), featuring soloist Dang Nguyen, tenor
- Ave Maria (F. Shubert), with soloist Abby Griswold, ‘25, mezzo-soprano
- Blessed Are the Peacemakers (R. Powell)
- Lead Kindly Light (S. Warner), spotlighting soloists Dang Nguyen, Abby Griswold, and Joseph Gross.
- Requiem (C.H. Johnson)
- Bridge Over Troubled Water (P. Simon, Arr. Shaw), highlighting soloists Abby Griswold and Sovereign Brown
In this third segment of the program, Lewis fully experienced the emotion of the theme Hallowed Be. The audience, intent on the music, agreed with his assessment.
Part Four: De La Salle Chapel Choir Together with the Hill Singers
“The highlight of the concert has to be the beautiful connections made with the Hill Singers. This is a partnership we hope to continue for future years,” said Lewis.
The culmination of the spring concert was the rich choral blend of the De La Salle Chapel Choir with the Hill Singers, which filled vast Basilica Shrine with expression and depth, allowing all in attendance time to reflect in the sacredness and the secular of the closing selections:
- Light of the World (K. Marrolli), featuring violinist Maria Ceferatti
- Baba Yetu (C. Tin) spotlighting soloist Brother Bako Pierre-Aymard
- Total Praise (R. Smallwood)
Hallowed, Spiritual Experience
The Hallowed Be spring concert was the collection of pieces from a variety of languages, traditions, styles, periods of time, and cultures crafted to foster a hallowed, spiritual experience.
“Singing in such a beautiful space as the Basilica Shrine is both a highlight for me, as well as the students,” explained Lewis.
The Basilica Shrine is grateful for the De La Salle Chapel Choir and Hill Singers for sharing their time and exquisite talents with our community in our sacred and welcoming setting. We hope all who attended had a peaceful, meditative afternoon of music. To view all upcoming events and services at the Basilica Shrine, please be sure to view our Worship & Event Calendar.
If you were unable to attend the De La Salle Chapel Choir Spring Concert at the Basilica Shrine, we warmly invite you to watch their performance now. Your support of the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal and the Basilica Shrine allows events like this to take place each year.