2008 Woodie Awards
Lakelands Presence Heard in 2004 Collegiate All-State Choir
James Shafstall
Issue date: 2/5/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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On the morning of January 16, 2004, students from 15 Wisconsin college choirs joined together at the Free United Methodist Church in Appleton to perform Igor Stravinsky's "Symphony of Psalms" and Thomas McKinney's "Conciliation". 11 of the 111 students in the Collegiate All-State Choir represented the Lakeland College University Choir. Lakeland had more students in the All-State Choir than any other school.
David Rayl, who conducted the All-State Choir, is currently Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Michigan State University. He was energetic, inventive, and entertaining as he worked the massive choir through three hours of rehearsal on Wednesday night and six on Thursday. Jessica Boor, a Lakeland student who sang soprano in the All-State Choir, said she learned about teaching from witnessing Rayl's ability to conjure up metaphors and use visual and physical means to convey abstract concepts inherent in creating music.
Aside from working under the dynamic Rayl, a highlight of the weekend was singing alongside other dedicated singers from all over Wisconsin. These students chose to take three days out of their life to learn a major work under a talented conductor; consequently, whenever Rayl made a change in the music or suggested a different idea, pencils were produced quickly to make notes, and the choir responded as a whole.
The final performance felt a bit crowded in the Free United Methodist Church. The choir members were packed together as they sang the two pieces, and the two pianos required to perform the "Symphony of Psalms" were inconveniently placed between the conductor and the choir. The church, however, became an appropriate set for staging the two pieces, which created a sacred atmosphere with spiritual lyrics and ethereal harmonies.
David Rayl, who conducted the All-State Choir, is currently Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Michigan State University. He was energetic, inventive, and entertaining as he worked the massive choir through three hours of rehearsal on Wednesday night and six on Thursday. Jessica Boor, a Lakeland student who sang soprano in the All-State Choir, said she learned about teaching from witnessing Rayl's ability to conjure up metaphors and use visual and physical means to convey abstract concepts inherent in creating music.
Aside from working under the dynamic Rayl, a highlight of the weekend was singing alongside other dedicated singers from all over Wisconsin. These students chose to take three days out of their life to learn a major work under a talented conductor; consequently, whenever Rayl made a change in the music or suggested a different idea, pencils were produced quickly to make notes, and the choir responded as a whole.
The final performance felt a bit crowded in the Free United Methodist Church. The choir members were packed together as they sang the two pieces, and the two pianos required to perform the "Symphony of Psalms" were inconveniently placed between the conductor and the choir. The church, however, became an appropriate set for staging the two pieces, which created a sacred atmosphere with spiritual lyrics and ethereal harmonies.