NEW YORK, NY – Members from seven different choral groups from various places around the country all came together to perform the show “With Strength & Joy” Monday, May 29, at the Lincoln Center in New York City. Auburn was represented by 26 students in the choir and William Powell, professor and director of choral activities at Auburn, as a guest conductor.
This is not Powell's debut performance at Lincoln Center. He has performed in numerous countries such as Italy, Australia and the U.S. and prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Walt Disney World. At Auburn, Powell teaches choral courses and conducts the Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Men's Chorus and Gospel Choir.
Distinguished Concerts International New York's "With Strength and Joy" concert showcased two separate acts. The first portion of the show was Antonio Vivaldi's "Gloria" conducted by Powell. The second portion was "Psalm 23: A Journey with The Shephard," composed and conducted by Pepper Choplin, a well known gospel music writer.
The various choral groups were accompanied by the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra, the resident orchestra for DCINY, and three opera soloists.
Since the show was presented on Memorial Day, during intermission military men and women in the audience were recognized. Members of the orchestra played the song of each branch of the military and those who served in that brach stood and were applauded.
One Auburn mother in the audience said she thought the entire performance was wonderful.
"William Powell is great," she said. "We've followed him and the choir with my son singing for numerous years, and him and his wife Rosephanye are both wonderful. They do an excellent job. And the other performance was beautiful too."
Having already performed "Gloria" for different crowds in Auburn, the choral group said they were thrilled to perform in New York's Lincoln Center.
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