CSU Chorus and Choral @ Cleveland State 12/5 The stars were out at Cleveland State University Friday evening, especially in Waetjen Auditorium, when the CSU Chorus & Chorale under the direction of Betsy Burleigh, combined with The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus, directed by Frank Bianchi for a varied and well-done concert of music of the season Behold the Star. All the music programmed (from a variety of sources and eras) belonged to the season, although much of it is heard at other times of the year, also. Stars were mentioned frequently.

In fact, I’ll start off with another set of ‘stars’ – the accompanists: the versatile Cara Chowning (who makes everything look so easy) for CSU and the equally versatile and talented William Shaffer for the Youth Chorus. In addition, Tom Bonezzi joined Mr. Shaffer for a duo-piano accompaniment on one selection, Allison Bent played the Conga drum on another for which Mr. Bonezzi played the tambourine, and for the grand finale,the Hallelujah Chorus, Mr. Shaffer moved up to the great pipe organ that lives at Waetjen. One piece from the Youth Chorus was directed by its assistant director, Sheila Ludwig.

Music performed was by composers who were born in the mid-1500s to a World Premiere of an arrangement by a CSU student of composition. Jenna Lyle is a soprano in the CSU Chorale and conducted her fellow singers in her re-working of Lo, how a rose e’er blooming. She exhibited a nice mix of rhythms and dynamics, plus a small solo for soprano Joy Powell. Earlier, tenor Robert Davis was an outstanding soloist in Behold the Star.

Many of the pieces were sung a capella, but all were well done. After intermission the Youth Chorus filled the stage with its much larger group of singers—some 110 plus. They also split out a smaller group- the Chamber Ensemble of 20 voices. In either personna, these high school students (from some 45 communities in Northeast Ohio) were superb. The articulation and diction, plus attention to dynamics would challenge the abilities of any adult choir anywhere. In fact, not only did they sing a capella wonderfully well, but on one piece, the director, Mr. Bianchi simply walked off stage and let them finish on their own.

These young singers watch and listen intently to each other and it was a pleasure to watch the smiles on the faces of those not singing as they watched their friends when the Chamber Ensemble was at the forefront.

This was a great prelude to the Holiday season.

For more information about upcoming concerts at Cleveland State University, visit the website: http://www.csuohio.edu/class/music/calendar.html (scroll down to the appropriate month). For information about The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus, the website is: http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/html/about/Choruses.asp#youth.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

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