FSU Choirs Present "Music of America" Concert

The choirs of Fairmont State University will present “Music of America” at the First Presbyterian Church, 301 Jackson St., Fairmont, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28. The concert will feature the FSU Collegiate Singers, Chamber Choir and Community Chorus. Admission to the concert is free and open to the public.

The program will showcase music by American composers from the colonial era to the present day. It includes selections by such well-known composers as Aaron Copland, Morten Lauridsen and William Billings. The concert will also feature well-known folk songs and spirituals, such as “Shenandoah,” “Nelly Bly” and “Elijah Rock.” The evening will close with two songs from West Virginia: “John Henry” and “My Home Among the Hills.”

“There are so many different genres and styles in the musical heritage of our country,” said Dr. Sam Spears, Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at FSU. “I love that we are singing such a colorful variety of music on a program that is all American. One of my favorite pieces on the program is the ‘Song of Democracy’ by Howard Hanson. It is a dramatic and expressive setting of poetry by Walt Whitman. The text speaks very optimistically about America’s role as an example to the world of democracy in action.”

For more information, contact Dr. Sam Spears at (304) 367-4118.

ChoirsSchool of Fine ArtsDepartment of MusicMusic