‘Hear America Singing!’ at Lynchburg College
By Casey Gillis on Oct. 22, 2008
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Lynchburg College music professor Jong Kim says organizing the Choral Union’s upcoming concert, “Hear America Singing!,” has taken on new meaning for him.
“We’ve been through lots of things these days … and (these songs) make us think about what America is really all about,” says Kim, who is also director of choral activities at LC.
“It is really moving.”
The free concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Snidow Chapel, and will feature songs like “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” Randall Thompson’s “Testament of Freedom” and “I Hear America Singing.”
It will also include one of Kim’s favorites, “Song of Democracy,” a poem written by Walt Whitman with music by Howard Hanson.
“It’s a very powerful statement on democracy,” Kim says. “Musically speaking, it’s very tightly, well-constructed. It’s dramatic.”
The Choral Union is a 70-member college and community chorus made up of LC’s faculty, staff, students and alumni.
On Sunday, they’ll be joined by the Lynchburg College Concert Choir.
The concert is part of the college’s Year of the Citizen, a series of activities and events designed to focus on the importance of an informed and engaged citizenry.
Couple that with the upcoming elections, and the timing is perfect, Kim says.
“Those two things just fit together very naturally.”
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