Summer 2007 - Hannibal-LaGrange University

Music
Concert Choir Tour
During the month of April, Hannibal-LaGrange Concert Choir performed a program of “World Music” representing the countries of
Ecuador, Nigeria, South Africa, Korea, Brazil, Ireland, Russia, and Norway. The 40-voice choir performed at three area churches. Along
with the music, a presentation was made highlighting current mission endeavors in each country. Some of the songs that were performed
included “E Oru O,” “Arirang,” “Per Spelmann,” “Gabi, Gabi,” “Il Lluvia,” “My Maker’s World,” “Riversong,” and “Salmo 150.” The concerts
featured a cappella selections, as well as authentic instrumental accompaniments. The HLG Jazz Choir also made an appearance, singing
selections of vocal jazz, which represented the United States. Jane Griffen, assistant professor of music, is the director of the HLG Concert
Choir and HLG Jazz Choir.
HLG Band Tour
Hannibal-LaGrange College’s Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Vision, a Southern Gospel men’s quartet, toured Louisiana April 13
through April 17, 2007. The groups were able to tour the downtown/French Quarter area of New Orleans, LA, and take in such sights as
Jackson Square, Cafe Du Monde, the French Market, Riverwalk Marketplace, and the Aquarium of the Americas. They also performed
for the host church, Williams Boulevard Baptist Church in Kenner, LA, during the morning service, and again that evening at Sherwood
Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. Before the group left Louisiana, they participated in a clean-up effort in New Orleans City Park. On
the way home, the groups stopped in Bowling Green, MO, to perform for the Eastern Missouri Cowboy Church. All three groups are
directed by David Corkern, assistant professor of music at HLG. According to Corkern, the band tour in Louisiana was an opportunity to
perform, a chance to help with hurricane relief, and a way to immerse themselves in the “culture... and FOOD of New Orleans!”
HLG Children’s Choir Concert and Tour
The Hannibal Children’s Choir, sponsored by Hannibal-LaGrange College, held their spring
concert on April 17 in Parker Theatre. The children’s choir, consisting of 53 students from
across the district, performed a variety of music from folk songs to the classics. Included
were several Orff instrumentations. On April 24, the children’s choir performed for Beth
Haven, a retirement community in Hannibal. To close their busy year of performances,
the choir went on tour on April 27, performing at five local Hannibal elementary schools.
This was the twentieth year for the choir as an educational outreach to enhance children’s
musical experience, supplementing school and church choral training by focusing on the
preparation and performance of age-appropriate music literature while having fun through
games, exercises, and performances. The children’s choir is led by Linda St. Juliana, who is the
vocal music teacher at Veterans Elementary School and coordinator of elementary fine arts in
education for the Hannibal Public School District.
HLG Handbell Choir
Instrumental Concert
The Advanced Handbell Choir performed a variety of music from classical to praise and worship
as part of the annual HLG Handbell Sunday on April 22. During the morning worship service,
the handbell choir played hymns with FBC Centralia’s Handbell Choir and provided other musical
portions of the service. That evening Immanuel Baptist Church of Hannibal, MO, hosted the
HLG Handbell Choir. Minister of Music and HLG alumnus Daron Caswell was featured on two
vocal pieces with the handbells. Classical tunes such as “Easter Exaltation” and “Classical Easter”
were performed, as well as more traditional hymns “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and
“Immortal, Invisible” among many others. The choir is directed by Dr. John Booth, who is serving
his 18th year as a member of the HLG music department faculty.
The Hannibal-LaGrange College music department presented their spring instrumental concert
featuring the String Ensemble, Advanced Handbell Choir, Jazz Band and Concert Band on April 26. The
String Ensemble, directed by John Ferguson, performed in the lobby of the Roland Fine Arts Center as
guests arrived, serenading them with such pieces as “Marche Militaire,” “The Easy Winners,” and “The
Sycamore.” The Advanced Handbell Choir, directed by John Booth, played “When I Survey,” “I Exalt
Thee,” “Here I Am to Worship,” “Easter Exaltation,” and other selections. The Jazz Band portion of the
concert featured an assortment of jazz styles. The familiar big band swing style was represented by
“Fat Cat,” “Hit and Run,” and “Backburner.” “Goodbye My Heart” was a slow ballad featuring an alto
sax soloist. “Samba, Samba” is a fun, upbeat Latin-style tune. The band played two upbeat jazz arrangements of old hymns, “Victory in
Jesus,” and “Heaven Medley,” consisting of “When We All Get to Heaven” and “When the Morning Comes.” The Concert Band closed out
the evening by presenting a program with a decidedly American flavor. “A Prairie Portrait,” by Robert Sheldon, was inspired by the poetry
of Carl Sandburg as he wrote about the pioneer spirit of his birthplace on the prairie. Other pieces included Larry MacTaggart’s “Mt.
Vernon Reverie,“ “America the Beautiful” by James Swearingen, and “Men of Might,” a rousing concert march including fanfares, cymbal
crashes, and woodwind trills. David Corkern is the director of bands at HLG.
The Arts
29