Dr. Eric Poole, director of Choral Activities, led the way at the 54th Annual Intercollegiate Music Association Concert Choir Conference in Elizabeth City, NC. Participating choirs comprised of students from Saint Augustine’s University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina Central University, Virginia State University and Winston-Salem State University. According to Poole, within a short time, the wonderful students and talented singers were blended into “one” he led them through two days of intensive rehearsals to a triumphant performance on February 8.

“These students set aside their rivalries and focused on a single goal, to make beautiful music,” Dr. Poole said. “I am thankful to my choral conducting colleagues for the opportunity to work with their students and most appreciative of the students’ cooperative spirit in the rehearsals and performance. My time with these singers was inspiring and renewing.”

The choir’s performance included the final chorus of angels, “Hallelujah,” from Beethoven’s oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives; a sublime setting of A Spotless Rose by Paul Mealor; Carolos Fonseca’s combination of two popular Northeastern Brazilian folk songs into an exciting setting of Muie Rendera; and Howard Robert’s thrilling setting of Wade in the Water, a feature piece in Alvin Ailey’s ballet Revelations. Also receiving its premiere was This We Pray on a text by Dr. Poole and set for choir and soloist by leading American composer Adolphus Hailstork.