Love is more than a romantic relationship.
Some may have a love for singing and performing, while others have a love for conducting melodies.
Love and its different meanings is the theme for "Our Heart's Joy," the season finale performance for the music department's choral ensembles.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, in Harlen Adams Theatre. Advance tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $6 for students and children. Tickets bought at the door are an additional $2.
Professor David Scholz will be conducting the evening.
The choral ensembles include the student ensembles Chamber Singers and A Capella Choir, while the University Chorus is a blend of students, faculty and the community.
The students range from freshmen through graduate students, and some aren't even music majors, Scholz said. There's a wide range of community members - doctors, nurses and lawyers are just some of the people who show up to sing.
"It's like this big melting pot of the university and the community," he said.
The assortment of people is one of the reasons why Scholz enjoys conducting.
"They're all drawn together by their love of singing choral in an ensemble," he said.
The choirs will explore the different realms of love through poetic works from William Shakespeare, Robert Frost and many other artists. Various musical compositions will go along with the poems during the evening.
The concert isn't focused on one style, Scholz said. He wants to reach out to everyone who attends.
The choirs will sing in six different languages including, but not limited to, English, Latin, German and Portuguese.
While the pronunciation on the foreign languages may not be perfect, it doesn't affect how great the singers are, Scholz said.
"They sing very, very well, and they sing with a lot of emotion," he said. "It's fun for me to get up there in front of them and conduct them every day."
Senior Anna Van Vleet sings with the Chamber Singers and A Capella Choir.
Van Vleet, a music education major, enjoys singing in the choirs, as well as the people she meets.
Music has been the thing that makes her happy, Van Vleet said.
"Before I was ever able to speak, I would sing," she said.
When she graduates, Van Vleet plans to continue singing and might join the University Chorus, as well as other musical organizations.
"Definitely music and choir and voice singing is going to be a part of my life - for sure," she said.
Senior Adam Johanson thought music was only going to be one of his hobbies. Originally an instrument player, Johanson saw some of his friends singing at the "Glorious Sounds of the Season" concert during his first year of college.
After being amazed by the performance, he decided to join the two student ensembles and declared music education as his major.
He still plays instruments, but focuses more on vocals, he said.
"I sing far more often than I do anything instrumental," Johanson said.
Paradise resident Karen Hass sings with the University Chorus. She has been involved with the choir since the spring semester of 1977.
Her passion for singing began at the age of 5 when she sang for her church, Hass said.
She admires the University Chorus for being open to the public and allowing anyone who wants to sing to join.
Professor Scholz has a great selection of compositions lined up for the event, she said.
"He picks really good music," Hass said. "Those of us who have been singing for a long time really appreciate it."
David Wangberg can be reached at
dwangberg@theorion.com
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