MC Singers’ 9/11 memorial concert focuses on resilience of the human spirit

The Mississippi Christian University Singers, the Mississippi Chorus and Pearl High School will present a concert commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, “9/11: Memorial,” at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, at First Baptist Church Jackson.

Beth Everett, MC associate professor and director of choral activities for the Department of Music, said the event marking the deadliest terrorist attacks in U.S. history will be more reverential than solemn.

“What happened on Sept. 11, 2001 changed not only the United States of America, but it changed the entire world,” Everett said. “In this memorial concert, we want to focus on the resilience of the human spirit. Although not a worship service, there are spiritual components to the program. Some of the music is sacred.”

The centerpiece of the concert will be a performance of “Memorial” composed by Rene Clausen. A 30-minute piece for mixed chorus, orchestra and baritone solo is a response to 9/11 that was commissioned for the 2003 Brock Commission of the American Choral Directors Association in New York City, which Everett attended.

“This piece of music is incredible,” Everett said. “It’s a very moving work. It doesn’t just focus on the tragedy; it focuses on the unity that came about in this country, how we laid down our differences in the wake of such a tragedy.

“I would like for the audience to be encouraged by that.”

The piece is performed continuously and includes four programmatic sections, taking listeners from the beauty of a September morning through the September attacks, the spiritual response of healing, hope and cleansing, and finally, the traditional prayer, “Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy,” and a plea for divine restoration. Drew Warford, minister of music at First Baptist Church Jackson, will perform the baritone solo.

Many of those who will sing in the concert weren’t alive when 9/11 occurred, a fact that is not lost on Everett.

“I told the students that none of us can imagine the horror of what took place on that day,” she said. “I want them to know what happened, but I don’t want them to dwell on that. It’s only a small part of the program.”

In addition to “Memorial,” the MC Singers will sing the “Star-Spangled Banner,” and an honor guard from the Mississippi Fire Academy in Pearl will present the colors. The Mississippi Chorus will sing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and students from Pearl High School will join the MC Singers for a rendition of “God Bless America.”

Everett said first responders in uniform will be admitted free; they will be recognized during the concert. Everett’s father, a police chaplain, will give the invocation and will be among those honored.

“The greatest tragedy we can experience can also bring out the best in who we are,” Everett said. “It can remind us that we are more alike as American people than we are different, and despite our differences, we can still come together when needed.

“We may disagree on many things, but we can set those things aside when needed and treat each other like the human beings that God created us to be.”

“9/11: Memorial” is the first of several performances the MC Department of Music has planned for the fall. Others set for MC’s Clinton campus include: Lyric Stage at MC’s performance of the musical “Prince of Egypt,” scheduled from Oct. 16 to 18; a Homecoming concert by the MC Singers, scheduled for Oct. 31; the annual Festival of Lights performances, scheduled from Dec. 3 to 5; and many others. For more information about the upcoming music slate at MC, visit music.mc.edu/events.

Tickets to “9/11: Memorial” cost $20 each for adults, $10 for college students and free for children in grades K through 12. For more information, visit mschorus.org/events-1/911-memorial.