SDSU Concert Choir presents Concert of Empowerment

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BROOKINGS – The South Dakota State University Concert Choir presents the concert “Rising Strong” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in the Performing Arts Center on the SDSU campus. Admission is free.

Director of Choral Activities Laura Diddle says the theme “Rising Strong” reflects the Concert Choir’s creed for the year, President Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena” speech, which is quoted in its entirety in the program. 

In fact, a poster of the speech hangs in the choir room, so the students can reflect on it every day. Diddle says the theme makes this concert very personal to the group. 

“Every year, the Concert Choir begins its season in retreat, singing for hours at a time and getting to know each other,” she said. “Our theme stemmed from that time together. The choir is a very close family that lifts each other up daily. I carefully selected the repertoire for this program with that in mind.”

The concert will include selections from Vijay Singh, Camille Saint-Saens and Joshua Rist. Several soloists will join the singers, including Dr. John Brawand on violin, Colton Cook on string bass and Jonathan Bakken on cello.