Pacific Lutheran University Chorale brings tour program home to Parkland

After a three-state tour of the Southeast United States, the Pacific Lutheran University Chorale will give a homecoming concert in Lagerquist Hall Tuesday. The concert includes music by Mendelssohn, Halsey Stevens, Norman Dello Joio, Moses Hogan, Eriks Ešenvalds and more, and features pianist Oksana Ezhokina and trumpeter Zachary Lyman, as well as director Brian Galante leading the 42-member student ensemble.

Called “I Can Tell The World,” after Moses Hogan’s arrangement of the traditional spiritual by the same name, the program is themed around making the world a better place, Galante said in the news release, with each piece making a statement on qualities such as strength, supplication, faith, hope, resolve, joy or journey.

“It seems, especially at this time, that we need profound text, music and artistry to help — in whatever small way— heal a broken world,” Galante said.

Among the works are John Muehleisen’s “When All is Done,” written in response to the murder of Matthew Sheppard; Ēriks Ešenvalds’ “O Salutaris Hostia” conveying spiritual strength; pieces by mid-century American composers Halsey Stevens and Norman Dello Joio with virtuosic trumpet and piano parts, and chorales of faith by Felix Mendelssohn.

Guest artists and PLU faculty members Oksana Ezhokina (piano) and Zachary Lyman (trumpet) will perform with the chorale.

The group’s winter tour took them to Georgia, Alabama and Florida, and prior to that they appeared on a PBS broadcast of the university’s annual Christmas concert.

This story was originally published February 2, 2016 at 8:44 AM with the headline "Pacific Lutheran University Chorale brings tour program home to Parkland."