Austin College Music Department to Host Concert of Choral Music

SHERMAN, TEXAS – Austin College’s Music Department will present a Concert of Choral Music entitled Inheritance: Soil, Song, and Spirit this Saturday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Wynne Chapel, Clifford J. Grum Sanctuary. The concert is free and open to the public.

The concert explores important aspects of our world inherited from those before us: the soil of the Earth, the songs of Earth's people, and the messages our people want to carry forward. The concert will feature the Austin College A Cappella Choir performing a wide variety of choral music including selections by Rosephanye Powell, Gwyneth Walker, and Elaine Hagenberg.

Also performing at the concert will be The Descant, a nine-voice treble a cappella ensemble singing in a variety of musical styles including pop, choral, and folk. Both ensembles are directed by Austin College Adjunct Professor of Choral & Vocal Music Lilly Boessen.

The Austin College A Cappella Choir was founded in 1946 and modeled after the a cappella collegiate choirs first founded in the 1910s and 20s. It is made up of students studying in all fields with the majority planning careers in medicine, law, education, technology, and business. Former Choir members are also professional performers, conductors, and music educators. The Choir has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.