April 23: University Choral Groups Spring Concert

Sunday, April 23, 2023
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 632 S. Broad St., Mankato

Minnesota State University, Mankato Department of Music & Entertainment Industries News Release

MANKATO, Minn. - Minnesota State University, Mankato's choral groups will perform in concert Sunday, April 23 at 3 p.m. The concert will take place at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 632 South Broad Street in Mankato. 

The performance will feature the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, directed by Elisabeth Cherland, and the University Chorale, directed by Abbey Guggisberg. Accompanying the groups will be pianists Ben Marti and Kyle Johnson.

The concert’s theme is “Change.” The pieces for this concert explore the changing of the times, change through social justice and transformation one may feel within. Skyler, an alto in the chorus, stated, “I am very moved by our concert theme of ‘change’; it’s such an important topic that everyone experiences and deals with differently. It is so inspiring to sing pieces by the legendary Joan Baez, Ruthie Foster and songwriter extraordinaire Bob Dylan while I learn about the same musicians in my music classes.”

When asked about the concert theme, Cherland explained: “Our spring concert centers on a theme of change. Life is full of changes - change that helps us thrive and grow as well as change that may cause struggle, hardship, and pain. We'll explore joy, death, resistance, and triumph.”

The program features pieces from around the world and various musical styles, including a composition by Department of Theatre & Dance faculty member Nicholas Wayne and an arrangement of “The Times They Are A-Changin” by Minnesota native Bob Dylan.

Minnesota State Mankato students are admitted free with a valid MavCARD. General admission is $9 and $7 for students (K-12) and all children. Those who wish to purchase tickets online should go to https://link.mnsu.edu/musictickets or call Dale Haefner in the Performance Series office, (507) 389-5549.