April 28th: Coker Choirs to Present Annual Spring Concert

The annual Spring Choral Concert, presented by the Coker music program, will be held at 4 p.m. April 28 at the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center. This concert is free and open to the public.

Performing in the concert will be the College’s premiere ensemble, the Coker Singers, the Chamber Singers, who recently completed a week-long choir tour to New York City, the Gospel Choir and the newly-formed Men’s Ensemble.  

This concert will include pieces such as “Amor de mi Alma” (You Are the Love of My Soul) by Randall Stroope, Handel’s “Awake the Trumpet’s Lofty Sound,” Glenn McClure’s “Kyrie” for steel drum, piano and percussion, “Alleluia” by Paul Basler, “Ubi caritas” (Where charity and love are, God is there) by Ola Gjeilo, “How Can I Keep From Singing” by Ronald Staheli and “Ave Maria” (Hail Mary, full of grace) by Franz Biebl.

“In this one performance we are able to highlight the many talented students who sing in one of our four choral ensembles,” said associate professor William Carswell, director of choral studies and chair of the department of dance, music and theater.  “The choirs have worked diligently during the semester in preparation for this showcase concert.”  

The Coker College Singers, Chamber Singers and the Men’s Ensemble are directed by Carswell, and is assisted by Ronda W. McElveen, staff accompanist at the College.  In addition to teaching, Carswell is an active clinician, guest conductor and adjudicator throughout the South. He holds a doctorate in music from the University of South Carolina and joined the Coker College faculty in 2002. Florence’s Brandon Williams is the director of the Gospel Choir.  

Founded in 1908, the Coker Singers is the premiere choral ensemble of the college. The group has performed throughout the Carolinas as well as in Atlanta, New Orleans, and Birmingham. Other recent engagements include performances at the Lincoln Memorial, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, and at Carnegie Hall and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

The Coker Chamber Singers were formed in 2005. It is an auditioned choir that studies and performs choral chamber works of all musical periods.

For more information, contact Carswell at wcarswell@coker.edu.