Women's Chorus sparkled yesterday during the Women in Music Festival at the Eastman School of Music.  This week-long celebration and concert-lecture series was created to honor women's incredible contributions to music.  What an inspiration it was for the aspiring young women of the chorus to share their voices in this celebration of female power and musical achievement.

The opening concert took place in Lowry Hall, the main corridor at the Eastman School of Music, with its echoing chambers and old-fashioned charm.  The molded, domed ceiling and cream-colored, marble tile accentuated the chorus's rich and powerful sound.  A sense of feminine strength could be felt around the room as generations of women from the Rochester-area and beyond gathered to experience this celebration of the female voice.

Gwyneth Walker's This Morning began the festivities in a fun, upbeat, and whimsical fashion. The glissandos and percussive words of the piece sounded especially vibrant in Lowry Hall.  Through their contagious smiles, it was clear members of the chorus were having fun sharing their voices.  The audible laughs and beaming smiles of the audience were a testament to the song's whimsy and the overall power of music to delight and spread joy.

Women's Chorus concluded their performance with Eleanor Daley's setting of William Butler Yeats's pinnacle work, The Lake Isle of Innisfree.  This beautifully-written poem shifted the atmosphere in the hall from one of excitement to one of peace and serenity.  As the chorus thoughtfully shaped each flowing line, sang with a hushed, warm tone, and emoted with an heir of relaxation and placidity, it was clear that Daley's melody struck a chord with them.  The extended silence following the piece confirmed the emotional impact of the singing.

Isn't this what music is all about: to move audiences through song and artistry?  What a special opportunity for Women's Chorus to share their voices and passion for music with other smart, thoughtful, and accomplished women.  Now more than ever, this country needs events like the Women in Music Festival to assert that women are strong, talented, intelligent, and deserve to be heard.







This Morning

The Lake Isle of Innisfree