CCC Music department hosts Spring ’25 Concert!

By Joshua Donescoss, Editor-in-Chief

Its 3:30pm on a beautiful Thursday evening and I happen to be walking by our school choir gearing up for their spring concert. Even though I work in the Student Life office, I’m partly responsible for putting up and taking down the flyers from our announcement board, and that I have a close friend in the choir itself, I still had no idea that we even had a choir or that there was a concert today. Confession aside, I am glad I decided to stay after to enjoy the ensemble perform for our benefit. Not only do I get to post my first official article for The Crier with only two and a half weeks left in the semester, but I get the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of talent and plenty of practice!

Now, a small disclaimer, I am by no means an expert on music composition nor can I judge any player’s skill. I have zero musical talent. But I do love music. Any opinion below is mine alone and it is not to be taken as professional.  

            Performing this evening was one Director of Music Activities, one chorus director, 24 instrumentalist, and six vocalists: all from CCC and the larger community. This is what “collaboration between campus and community” truly looks like. While this was a semester ending concert, there will be plenty of future opportunities for anyone to either join or enjoy. Concerts are help twice a year (fall and spring) and you can take band or chorus for college credit. Do you need talent and skill to join? Absolutely not. You only need a willingness to learn, to work hard, and to have fun.   

            It was a solid turnout on my side of the stage. Music lovers and supporters showed up slowly over about 45 minutes prior to the concert. I even got to sit next to a good friend and colleague, Ashanti Haugabook. If you’ve been to a Student Life event or to the office, then you know my friend. Right on time, the Director, Will Wickham, calls the room to attention and begins by introducing the program. Not only is he a director of music, but he’s also a comedian!

            Below I want to give you, my readers, my “hearing notes,” so to speak. It’s like tasting notes for wine but for music instead. I only took notes based off what I heard or felt like the music was saying. Again, I am no expert on music but I think I got the gist of each piece. The program was divided into three parts. First the band ensemble, second the chorus, and then finally the band finished with a second part. 13 pieces total. As for theme, there wasn’t an overarching theme or specific genre. It was just good music.  

The band opened with Cavata by Francis McBeth. Thie piece was lively, triumphant, driven, but sank into slow and gracious melodies right in the middle. A crescendo on the crash cymbal sends the band back into full swing.

The second piece, Ghilie Dhu by Jospeh B. Earp, is of Scottish origin. This, in turn, is the origin of the term ghillie suit, a form of camouflage used by snipers. The piece is about a mischievous woodland elf. It made me feel like I was walking in misty green pastures, perhaps even on a quest.  

Gap Creek sounded oddly familiar. The first few notes sound like the opening notes to Band of Brothers theme song. Slow and melodic. Tempo kicks up a bit with warm undertones.   

To close out the first one third of the program, band played a piece called Antecedium by Ed Huckeby. Boasting a nonsensical Latin title, it was anything but nonsensical! Is this a rocky theme because it sounded like I needed to hit the gym? Perhaps it’s a march or a charge into some battle. The drums really drove this piece. Middle was low and slow, working back up to that feeling of winning a title match.  

The Chorus features a new face. Chorus director Gary Tucker teaches vocals here at CCC and at Elmira college. He was also playing the Timpani, among other percussion instruments this evening. He led six vocalists in five songs, a few of which you already know quite well.

They opened with a classic from the 1960s, California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & the Papas. You know it. You love it. It’s a great song. Alexanderia DeLuca led vocals.

The second song titled The Poet Sings, based off a real poem by Richard Le Gallienne was slow and melodic. The poem itself is about a long-lost love. The song extends the imagery further and gives the long-lost love a name.

Ah! My childhood. I liked the movie, Pocahontas. This was a very good rendition of the Colors of the Wind. This was also the song they were practicing that made me want to stay. This was the best, especially as the wind blew through the  blossoming trees out front. I also included the CD version of this song on my Instagram page.  

Their 4th piece was another classic. Every choir should master Hallelujah. This was solid and unique. You could hear the passion. I like how they made the “hallelujah’s” end in a sharp upward inflection.  

Their final piece was One Voice by Barry Manilow. Vocalist Jasmine Helles soloed the beginning lines. One Voice reminds us that we aren’t alone, even if it’s dark in life. Finished strong and on a high note, literally. Listen to our Spring Concert podcast to hear more on her thoughts!

After a short break the band quickly returned for their 2nd half.

Now, I’m not trying to be mean but it seemed that the band struggled to play this piece. Superstition, while well known, is difficult. It  had to be restarted and there was a moment when it felt like the bottom just fell out. But that’s okay! They recovered and finished well The brass section provided the “voice” of Stevie Wonder (or Stevie Ray Vaughan depending on your style).  

The 6th piece was another well-known piece, although you probably don’t know the name of it, El Relicario, by Jose Padilla. You would, however, recognize the tune if you’ve ever watched a movie or show featuring Spanish bullfighting! A hasty little tune with flowing sections that dance around the percussion. I felt like I was in a stadium! Thankfully no one was hurt during the production.   

My favorite piece of the evening opened with a little primer on the history of the piece itself. X-Ray Waltzes was written in Steuben County. Surprisingly, it was written by H.L. Tyler, the same guy who invented the electric chair! This was arranged by director Wickham but includes older parts. History resurrected! It sounds like the 1920s (and does not sound like you are being led to your death). This sounds more like you are at a county fair, maybe hearing a waltz being played off in the distance or riding on an old-fashioned carousel. Frolicky and delightful.

Finally, the last piece was another resurrection but this time far much older. Beethoven! A jazzy remix of his 5th.

The night ended with a standing ovation from the crowd. All cheers, no jeers! The band and chorus did a wonderful job. Each member clearly has a love for their instrument and the technical skill to pull off the intense coordination required for an ensemble, even if its small. To my surprise there were even a couple of staff and faulty among the players, proving how close CCC is with the community. I finished my evening by getting a quick statement from music director Will Wickham. I asked him for his thoughts on the evening and this is what he had to say [slightly edited for clarity]:

“The concert was a great deal of fun. I am fairly confident that everybody who sang and played had a good time. I know I did. I think that the people in the audience had a good time. I hope that by doing a fun program in a place like The Commons that we can encourage more students to take part in the musical activities on campus, especially the instrumental ensemble and the chorus, the vocal ensemble. And students can do it for credit or just for fun. We also encourage faculty and staff to do it as well. We actually have a couple of faculty members and one staff member in the instrumental ensemble. And we have community members that sing and sing and play instruments in both ensembles as well. The more, the merrier!”