Coppell Community Chorale ends season with explosive concert

Coppell Community Chorale ends season with explosive concert

Gracie Blackwell, Staff Writer

Music brings people together from all different genres. Over the weekend, the Coppell Community Chorale did just that.

The Coppell Community Chorale Concert, entitled Mood Music took place this past Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m, and Sunday at 3 p.m., ending its 2015-2016 season.

Starting off, 32 members walked in one by one with confident stances, all wearing black clothing and looking eager to put on a show stopping concert.

Besides the members who sang, the members who played instruments included accompanist Caroline Martin, drums by Jack Watkins, guitar by David Harllee and the bass played by Johnny Salveson.

A total of 18 songs were performed, from classics and modern music to musical showstoppers and poems arranged into songs.

“Our expectations are always high for each concert. Each concert feels better than the last and the compliment we hear most often from patrons is ‘best show yet’,” CCC president and chorale member Bethany Henze said.

The dimming of the lights on the crowd and brightening of the spotlights on the stage signified the beginning of the concert. A full house of friends and family members of the chorale came to support the members.

“Mood music. Is there any kind of other music? No,” Maestro Duilio Dobrin said. “Everything conveys a feeling. Everything conveys an emotion and we all feel it very deeply. It doesn’t matter sometimes what the text-what the lyrics say but sometimes the lyrics help and elucidate and make the piece of music even more exciting.”

The ensemble started off with an explosive performance of “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana by Karl Orff. Although the poem is mostly Latin Goliardic, the audience immediately took an interest to it. Following that, they sang “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel.

Broadway songs were a big theme during the first half of the concert, including “Bring Him Home” from famous musical Les Misérables based on the book by Victor Hugo, “Wheels of a Dream” from musical Ragtime, “Rhythm of Life” from Sweet Charity, and “There’s a Fine Fine Line” from Avenue Q.

After the array of Broadway songs, about half of the members of the chorale left the stage. The remaining half was introduced as a group within the chorale called the “Variations”, which is a completely self-taught ensemble. They sang two songs, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana and “I Lived” by OneRepublic while on stage.

Afterwards, a moving rendition of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” was sung by accompanist Caroline Martin, and was a highlight of the concert because of the vulnerability and power she showcased to the audience.

A short 10 minute intermission followed the first half where the audience bought snacks raffle tickets to support the CCC and win prizes.

After the intermission, the tenor/bass quartet consisting of around 10 people sang “We’ll Rant and We’ll Roar” which is a Newfoundland folk song. The tenor/bass ensemble sang “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from the musical comedy Spamalot.

Only women took the stage in the soprano/alto ensemble, where they sang an explosive “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele and an energy-filled “What is this Feeling?” from the musical Wicked.

Following the soprano/alto ensemble, the rest of the chorale came back and finished off the concert. The remaining songs included “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor, originally a poem, “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson, a riveting “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen and “Thank You for the Music” by ABBA.

Right before the finale song, raffle tickets to support the CCC were drawn and given out.

An explosive finale performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen left the crowd pleased. The various crescendos throughout the piece captivated the audience, leaving their best performance for last.

“The concert weekend was a wonderful experience,” Henze said. “Just because it’s over doesn’t mean we are finished. We are planning a full slate of concerts next season and are knee deep in music selection, securing outside venues, and working on our calendar.”