April 24, 2006

Throughout the day and into the evening last Tuesday, Latin, Spanish, German and English, carried on the wings of music, filled every corner of the Psalm Performing Arts Center.

Twelve college choirs – some of them nationally and internationally recognized – sang in the new center on Tuesday, April 18. This was the first time the Oregon chapter of the American Choral Directors Association has held its annual choir festival at Corban College, but it won’t be the last.

“All I heard from other choirs were positive things – so much so that they want to come back next year,” said freshman Jenna Zufelt, manager of Corban’s choir.

Choirs arrived from Willamette, Oregon State, Portland State, Western Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Concordia and George Fox universities; Umpqua, Lane and Clackamas community colleges; and Linfield College. The festival kicked off just after noon with “The Last Words of David,” sung by George Fox and ended much later that evening with Corban’s spiritual, “Elijah Rock.”

“It was awesome to see all that talent file through the Psalm Center,” Zufelt said.

In the middle of the day, choir directors met and decided to hold the ACDA Collegiate Choir Festival at Corban again next year. None of the directors had been on campus before, and many were impressed by the Psalm Center and the 40 student volunteers who readied the stage, ran TV cameras and assisted them and their choirs.

"All of the staff were helpful and friendly.  I think it is easy to say that this has been the best organized and hosted festival during my seven years," said Dr. Steven Zielke, director of Oregon State University's choir.

“I’ve been looking for a way to get my collegiate peers onto campus,” said choir director Matthew L. Strauser. “We got rave reviews from all our guests. Several of the directors commented on how happy and helpful and polite the students were.”

The Psalm Performing Arts Center will again welcome talented visiting musicians on Saturday, April 29. High-school vocalists and instrumentalists will arrive to compete at Oregon’s annual solo competition, which draws top competitors from around the state.

Corban’s choir will perform twice more this semester, once at an end-of-the-year concert on Friday, April 28 and again at graduation on Saturday, May 6.