“It’s remarkable what can happen in just a couple of days of focused rehearsal.” That was the reaction of Sean Foster, director of the Sterling College Choir, after nine Sterling College music students joined some of the region’s top collegiate singers to perform in the Collegiate Honor Choir at the conference of the Southwest American Choral Directors Association (SWACDA) on March 4-7, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The prestigious ensemble brought together approximately 100 outstanding singers from colleges and universities across the Southwest region for an intensive weekend of rehearsal and performance, culminating in a featured concert under the direction of guest conductor Jonathan Talberg, director of choral activities at California State University, Long Beach.

Sterling College was represented by Copper Collins, a junior from Pretty Prairie, Kansas; seniors Noah Svaty and Caleb Brownlee, both of Sterling, Kansas; senior Mary Little and junior Taggart Reiss, both of Hutchinson, Kansas; junior Philip Starnes of Wellington, Kansas; senior Lily Stansbury of Lyons, Kansas; sophomore Allison Reed of Topeka, Kansas; and junior Hannah Ellis of Cunningham, Kansas.

During the concert, Sterling College senior Mary Little was also selected to perform in a featured trio on the piece “And So I Go On” by Jake Runestad, an honor that highlighted her vocal artistry among the singers in the ensemble.

“Experiences like this give students the chance to sing challenging music with other college students from across the country,” Foster said. “At Sterling College, we have very capable choirs, but we simply don’t have the numbers or the dedicated rehearsal time required to take on some of the repertoire performed at events like this.”

“The choir sang with great expression, effective tuning, and moving musicality,” he said. “There was a lovely maturity to the tone, and it was apparent that they all bought into Dr. Talberg’s leadership.”

For the students, the experience provided both musical challenges and the chance to collaborate with singers from other institutions.

“I really enjoyed getting to sing with students from across the southwest,” said Reed. “It was a great opportunity to sing some very challenging music, and I learned a lot.”

Reed said one of the most demanding selections for her was Since Feeling Is First, which features an unusual 7/8 time signature and complex harmonies.“It was a difficult challenge,” she said, “but I thought the ensemble handled it well.”

Stansbury said the opportunity to collaborate with other passionate musicians made the experience especially meaningful.

“The best part about this experience was learning the music and performing with new people who care deeply about what they do,” she said. “The director was very kind and open with us as students and performers.”

She noted that Phoenix by Jocelyn Hagen proved particularly challenging because of its shifting rhythms and musical lines. “It had many parts and moved through different time signatures and keys,” Stansbury said. “It was challenging but very rewarding to perform.”

“The students who participated can now bring what they learned back to Sterling College,” he said. “Our choirs will benefit from their leadership and the musical insights they gained during the experience.”

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.