WEST LIBERTY, WV, November 15, 2023 – On Sunday, November 19, the West Liberty University Department of Music and Theater will welcome high school students from around the Ohio Valley to the hilltop to spend the day making music with the students in the choral program. Throughout the day, choirs from Bellaire, Ohio, Moundsville, WV and Wellsburg, WV led by directors Lara Cline (’15), David Scherrick (’03), and Isaac Cardot (’22) will share music they have been working on. The choirs will join with the West Liberty University Singers and Choral Scholars under the direction of Dr. Douglas McCall to prepare the mass choir selection Until We Meet Again (R. Wright). The day will culminate with a free concert in Elbin Auditorium (College Hall) at 7:00 pm. Light refreshments will be provided following the concert.
Dr. McCall commented, “I believe it is important for high school singers to understand that regardless of where their path takes them after high school, there are always opportunities to keep singing. Whether it’s a college choir, church choir, or community choir, they should find ways to keep sharing in the joy of making music.”
The West Liberty University Choirs will be singing a piece written by the late Dr. Harald Wiesner, a long-time professor of Music Theory in the WLU Music program. The West Liberty Foundation will present a video related to the new Harald Wiesner Scholarship. In addition, the members of the West Liberty music program will be presenting his widow, Mrs. Sharon Wiesner, with a plaque commemorating his dedication to the Music program at West Liberty.
Betsy Delk said of the Wiesner Scholarship, “We are grateful to the friends and family of Dr. Wiesner who established this scholarship in his memory. The scholarship will provide financial aid to students enrolled in the WLU Music Degree programs of Music Education, Music Performance, and Music Technology. Contributions to the scholarship fund can be made at wlufoundation.org.”
“I truly believe in the power of community singing,” said Dr. McCall. “Music has the potential to express those feelings which cannot be expressed in words. It enables us to share in an expression of beauty regardless of our individual ability. We are able to come together in a common goal.”
West Liberty University is West Virginia’s oldest public university, and it offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and 12 graduate programs, both online and on campus. Learn more at westliberty.edu.