The Stute’s spotlight of Stevens musicians would not be complete without mention of the Stevens Choir. The Stevens Choir is a remarkable ensemble made up of talented singers who are passionate about music and love to share their talents with the community. Music Program Coordinator and Director of the Choir, Dr. Bethany Reeves, leads the group. Reeves heads the ensemble’s rehearsals and performances, plans concerts, and selects the musical ensemble’s repertoire, and was delightful to interview.
In her recent interview with The Stute, Dr. Reeves informed that the Choir is currently working towards their upcoming spring concert, titled “A Little Night Music,” set to commence on April 29 2023 at 8 p.m. in the DeBaun Auditorium. Reeves makes a conscious effort to unify pieces from a diverse range of time periods and genres, and the upcoming concert’s sphere is no exception. She selected a varied repertoire including an a cappella adaptation of Mozart’s renowned composition, “A Little Night Music,” a contemporary classic with neo-Renaissance elements by Ola Gjeilo, and a challenging vocal jazz piece that has earned a Grammy award. “There will also be two songs featuring a small percussion array (‘Stand By Me’ and ‘Wimoweh/The Lion Sleeps Tonight’), and several other pieces with lush piano accompaniments provided by the Choir’s longtime pianist, Stephanie Safko,” Reeves further informed.
The “A Little Night Music” concert will feature a multitude of talented soloists, including Adriana Aguirre, Corey Batchelder, Charlie Beall, Valerie Calligy, Cameron Clifford, Isabella Cruz, Nicholas Hite, and Kayleigh Kubit, as Reeves informs, the majority of whom will be graduating this semester. “[The soloists’] repertoire includes the glorious and very challenging ‘Tonight’ Quintet from ‘West Side Story,’ the lovely duet-with-chorus ‘Belle Nuit’ from the opera ‘The Tales of Hoffmann,’ and Schubert’s great, dark art song ‘Erlkönig,’” shared Reeves.
These talented soloists dedicate an abundance of time studying their craft under the guidance of Dr. Reeves both at Choir rehearsal and in the DeBaun Voice Studio. Choice soloist work has been selected to be further celebrated and featured alongside exceptional Stevens vocalists at the upcoming Honors Voice Recital, scheduled for May 6 at 7 p.m. in DeBaun Auditorium. The Honor recital’s repertoire similarly covers a range of time periods, from classical works to a modern Broadway staple.
For those interested in joining the Choir, there are brief, private auditions held at the beginning of each semester. Dr. Reeves welcomes students to contact her at breeves@stevens.edu for more information, and mentioned that membership in the Stevens Choir is a prerequisite for study in the DeBaun Voice Studio, where students are provided with the opportunity to receive vocal lessons free of charge.
All are encouraged to attend the upcoming “A Little Night Music” concert on April 29 at 8 p.m. and the Honors Voice Recital on May 6 at 7 p.m. Admission to concerts is free with a valid Stevens ID.
