The Heidelberg University Sings a World Premiere

The Heidelberg University concert choir performed a world premiere piece at their annual home concert on April 27^th. The world premiere piece is titled i carry your heart in honor of the late Dr. Ferris Ohl. The piece was commissioned by the Heidelberg concert choir and was composed by Michael John Trotta, who was present at the home concert. The piece is a setting of E.E. Cumming’s famous poem, i carry your heart, and is interwoven into Trotta’s original composition. This piece is a meaningful tribute to Dr. Ferris Ohl and will help to carry on his legacy throughout the coming years.

Dr. Gregory Ramsdell, Director of Choral Activities at Heidelberg University, is more than welcoming to anyone who wants to hear to choir perform. Experiencing the concert choir sing is a unique experience since Heidelberg is a liberal arts university. “There are a lot of students that are in the choir not because they are required to be,” Dr. Ramsdell said, “but because they want to be a part of a singing organization.” This is important because the students of the concert choir come from many different majors and are there to sing willingly, not there because their major requires it.

The theme of the concert was Come Travel With Me. This theme was carried out through all of the songs and was meant to take the listener on a journey. The concert’s repertoire was set up to follow the path of a journey, whether it be physical or spiritual. When asked about the theme, Dr. Ramsdell said, “…it’s not necessarily about going any place in particular, it’s really more about the idea of being in companionship and in communion with someone else.” In that sense, the theme is more about who you are with, and not where you’re going. Every journey must begin and end, and no one knows for sure what will happen throughout their journey, or when it might end.

The Heidelberg University concert choir was incepted in 1938 and has continued to grow as a university choir throughout the years. The ensemble is open to all Heidelberg students regardless of major. The choir practices four hours a week and has over 20 concerts throughout the academic year.