The Troy University Choral Showcase Concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Troy.

“This combined spring ‘choral showcase’ features the large, unauditioned group, Collegiate Singers, the smaller, auditioned group, and the Concert Chorale,” said Diane Orlofsky, director of University Choirs. “The vocal jazz ensemble, frequency, has a small role in this concert since their performance was earlier in February.  Their CD, ‘Fields of Gold’ will be on sale in the lobby.

“The pieces that Laura Mixon and I have programmed for this concert really stretch our singers melodically and harmonically.  Many are musical settings of poetry by Robert Bode, e.e. Cummings, Sara Teasdale, and Wendell Berry and are centered upon universal themes, including love, death, memory, regret, isolation, comfort and joy.”

Orlofsky said the students certainly can identify with the beauty of the music and the depth of the poetry.

“We have pushed their boundaries with this program and I think that members of the audience will certainly find something to which they can connect and relate,” she said.

“The Concert Chorale are performing a beautiful piece in Spanish called ‘Amor de mi Alma’ and we are dedicating it to Pamela Merkel.  Ms. Merkel is known and admired by many in the city of Troy and we honor her 35 years of teaching the Spanish language with 28 years at Charles Henderson High School.”

Orlofsky said she is proud of her undergraduate conductor,  Meagan King of Ariton.

“Meagan is conducting a very challenging piece called ‘I go among Trees.’” she said.  “It is my philosophy, as director of choirs, that I need to encourage the ‘next generation’ of choral conductors.  To that end, I share the podium with the graduate assistant and have, for a number of years, worked with an undergraduate conductor as well.  The first of these came with Troy native, Scott Sexton, a number of years ago.”

Orlofsky said spring is also graduation time.

“So to honor the graduating seniors and graduate students, we are dedicating the gorgeous setting of ‘Take my Hand’ to them,” she said. “It is my hope that they forever remember our choral journeys fondly.”

The public is invited to be a part of this evening of choral music.

As always, admission to the concert is free.