Fall concert taps folk, spirituals and inspiration

By Chris Baldus  |   cbaldus@charlescitypress.com

Derek Sturtevant’s first fall concert as the director of Charles City High School choirs included a mix of folk, inspirational and 1980s movies soundtrack. The concert in the North Grand Auditorium also saw an alumna, who helped the school reconstitute its alma mater, take the stage.

Sturtevant, a Luther College graduate, came to Charles City this school year to take over for fellow Luther College graduate Bradley Beale, who began graduate school out of state.

Sturtevant opened the concert by going off program and adding a performance of the national anthem, which the choir would do again the next morning at the Veterans Day event at the Comets’ new competition gym.

The Comet Chorus was the next onto the stage and began with “Johnny Said No!” by Vijay Singh. It’s a folk-type song about how Johnny is popular with young women of his town, but frustrates them because he’s immune to their charms.

“The Poet Sings” by Z. Randall Stroop was their next piece. The inspirational song is based on a poem by Richard LeGallienne, an English poet who died in 1947. Its chorus includes the line “Stay the course, light a star, change the world where’er you are …”

Sophomores Cinnamon Evans and McKenna Oleson sang solos in the final piece for the chorus: “Worthy To Be Praised.”

The Chamber Choir offered one song that is best known as a Simon and Garfunkel standard, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” This arrangement was by Kirby Shaw.

The Concert Chorale opened with the spiritual “Shut de Door,” arranged by Mark Hayes. Hana Laue and Ashlyn Bauer sang solos.

Dylan Parsons was the soloist for “Idumea,” with Ruby Peterson accompanying on violin.

Percussionists Izaak Jensen, Karissa Jensen and Olivia Hake opened and backed up the chorale during “Let the River Run,” arranged by Craig Hella Johnson.

Sturtevant is carrying on the tradition of inviting former Charles City choir members to join the choirs on stage to close out the performance of the Charles City High School Alma Mater. Joining them this time were Allie McGovern, senior; Ireland Hambeck and Lucas Comito, Class of 2016; and Pat McCauley of the class of 1950.

McCauley helped the choir program reconstitute the alma mater by answering a phone call and singing the song to them, she said.

McCauley is the great-grandmother of McKenna Oleson and attended high school in the North Grand building.

“A lot of great memories in this building,” she said.

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