On Saturday, April 13 2012 the Saint Anselm College Choir performed their Spring Concert in the Abbey Church, bringing an end to their twenty-sixth season at the college.
The upper church was packed to the brim with audience members, ranging from members of the current student body to local residents and alumni.  Furthermore, people from all different age groups were represented amongst the crowds.
Each year, the Saint Anselm College Choir under the direction of Father Bede Camera performs a Spring concert.  The process is not a short one, as it takes Father Bede and the choir a while to screen through hundreds of pieces to find the ones that will best fit with the current group of choir students.
This Spring they did not disappoint, with pieces ranging from the Saint Anselm College Anthem to Be With Me, Lord, and You Are Mine.  The organization of the program was also exceptional, mixing around different songs with different feels throughout the set.
As a group, the Choir was the picture of musical professionalism.  They entered the church in two separate lines, one flanking to the right and the other to the left before assembling as a group in front of the audience.
As the choir began to perform the atmosphere within the church began to change.  One could almost feel the worries of people’s days slipping away as they began to relax and feel the music.
Different pieces also elicited different emotions as some songs contained striking harmonies while others were warm, deep, and layered.  Every member of the choir appeared to be emotionally involved in the music, making it easier to connect with the music and with the performers.
The soloists too did a remarkable job, with each student adding their own individual flare on pieces such as O God, Hear Us, and Veni, Creator Spiritus.  The music almost felt as if it was transcending reality, with the audience not being able to help feeling humbled and calmed.
As per the decision of the choir, several of the selections were performed in the traditional Latin instead in their English translations.  This choice is what allows the audience to connect differently with the music, allowing a greater opportunity for spiritual interpretation.  Furthermore, every choir member always appeared focused and emotionally engaged, which they were able to maintain throughout the entire performance.
Beyond being simply a musical group, the Saint Anselm College Choir is really a great big family.  Many students even say that the most painful thing about graduation is the fact that they have to leave the choir.
What makes the Saint Anselm College Choir so significant however is their deep connection with their Alumni brothers and sisters.  During the performance, any Alumni in attendance were given the opportunity to go up and sing with the current choir; a chance that many took advantage of.
Almost as impressive as the performance was seeing how effortlessly the Alumni were able to immediately blend into their respective spots in the choir and blend in with the current group of students.  All of their eyes were fixed on Father Bede and they combined group performed in a powerful and elegant manner.
As the Choir looks forward to its twenty-seventh year at St. A’s they are also looking forward to their upcoming trip abroad.
In the Spring semester of 2014 the choir will be going on a European Concert tour that hits Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany, where they will be both performing and sightseeing in some of Europe’s most cultured cities.
If you are looking for a positive, spiritual experience where you will be able to relax and become more in tune with your spirituality, go see a performance by the Saint Anselm College Choir.