W&L, VSU Host Joint Choir Concerts
W&L, VSU Host Joint Choir Concerts
The schools came together for two joint concerts, bridging historical and social gaps.
(W&L and VSU choirs perform at Wilson Concert Hall. | SOURCE: Author)
“The students from both schools just showed their own ability and versatility, and they adapted quickly,” said Washington and Lee University Director of Choral Activities, Professor Shane M. Lynch.
On the weekend of February 15 and 16, W&L’s top choir group, the University Singers, and Virginia State University's Concert Choir performed two joint concerts. The groups rehearsed together on both days.
Their first joint concert was held at River Road Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, on the evening of Saturday, February 15. “It was a pleasure to work with such a genuine and kindhearted choir,” said Isaac James, ‘27, a member of the University Singers. “River Road Church was a brilliant venue,” he said.
Sunday, February 16, saw the two choirs come to W&L’s Wilson Concert Hall.
This is the first time that W&L has partnered with VSU for a choir concert, despite the universities being less than three hours apart. “A lot of people were surprised it hadn’t happened yet,” Josh Darrow, ‘26, a member of University Singers, said.
Michael Hill, the director of the DeLaney Center, which studies Southern race relations, culture, and politics, applauded the choirs’ cooperation. “The DeLaney Center exists to hallmark noteworthy episodes that engage race and Southern identity,” Hill said. “This undertaking fits squarely under that banner.”
Based purely on statistics, the schools could not be more different. At VSU, a public, historically black land-grant college, black people account for 87% of the student body. W&L, a private, liberal arts college, is 82% white.
Yet, neither choir seemed focused on their differences. “We just had a lot of fun singing with them,” Darrow said.
At one point, some students from both groups realized they knew “Hallelujah”, a choir favorite, and started singing it together during rehearsal without any director involvement.
Students exchanged phone numbers and social media to keep in touch after the performances. While many new friends were made, some old friends were reunited. Darrow reconnected with a friend from a summer program whom he had not seen in years.
Each choir also shared its own unique culture and style of singing with the other during their two conjoined pieces, “David, David, Servant of the Lord” and “Shenandoah.” Each song is a classic at their respective schools, but have differing styles. “David, David, Servant of the Lord” embodies the gospel music for which VSU’s music program is known, while “Shenandoah”, a W&L classic, is an Appalachian folk song.
“We wanted to pick pieces that were really kind of seminal for both schools and then get them together,” Lynch said.
Despite the stylistic differences in the pieces, neither choir had a problem adjusting. They were excited to learn new techniques and incorporate them into the concert later that night.
Chapman Roberts, a singer and composer, attended the choir's rehearsal. Roberts has won a Grammy and Tony Award for his work on Broadway as a vocal arranger and focuses specifically on highlighting black musical traditions.
According to students, Roberts was moved to tears by the collaboration between W&L and VSU. He said that a century ago, this collaboration would have been illegal under Jim Crow laws.
Some attendees viewed the joint concerts as progress despite historical and social differences, although many simply focused on the concerts themselves. “It’s just people that love to sing, singing together,” said Sasha Soukhoveev, ‘28. “It was a sweet moment.”