Blackburn College’s spring concert finale brought together three choral ensembles—College Choir, Conservatory Choir, and Community Choir—for a moving performance of Schubert’s Mass in G Major, marking a milestone for the College’s Music program.
This concert was the first time all three choirs performed together, highlighting a renewed commitment to community engagement and student opportunity. First was the primary Blackburn Choir, composed of Blackburn students and music majors at the College. Then, there was the Conservatory Choir, launched in the fall with support from the Illinois Arts Council, which offers high school students from districts without music programs the chance to participate in formal choral singing. Finally, there was the reintroduced Community Choir, previously on hiatus since the pandemic, welcoming local singers of all ages and backgrounds.
“Bringing these ensembles together on one stage was incredibly meaningful,” said Dr. Joseph Welch, Professor of Music and Chair of the Music & Theatre Department at Blackburn College. “We took time to celebrate the specialness of our intergenerational collaboration, and how it is a beautiful model of a diverse group of people working toward a common goal.”
In addition to the featured choral performance, Blackburn music majors presented original compositions. Developed under the mentorship of award-winning songwriter and Blackburn College guest artist Dr. Kim McLean, students wrote, arranged, and performed their own works for choir and orchestra. Each student stepped into the spotlight as a soloist on their piece, gaining critical experience in both songwriting and live performance.
Welch added, “This experience gave our students an invaluable taste of real-world music-making. We are thrilled to provide this unique opportunity to our students.”
The concert reflected Blackburn’s ongoing mission to provide transformative educational experiences while strengthening ties with the broader community through the arts.