UNC Women's Glee Club harmonizes with high schools

Tonight, high school girls will hit high notes with UNC Women's Glee Club.

At University United Methodist Church, four local high school girls’ choirs will share the stage with UNC Women's Glee Club in the Carolina Women’s Choral Showcase. 

With Women’s Glee, each school will sing two pieces separately. As the finale, they will join together for “Famine Song,” arranged by Matthew Culloton. 

Sue Klausmeyer, director of the Women’s Glee Club, said "Famine Song" illustrates the actions of Sudanese women during a severe drought. 

"It captures the pain and anguish of that situation," she said. "It’s a very moving testimonial to the power of women to do something to make a difference.” 

Sarah Zelasky, a sophomore and treasurer of the UNC Women's Glee Club, said the four high schools chose certain singers to sing together. 

“What’s really neat is that each high school has two or more soloists that are performing together in the middle of the song," she said.

Women’s Glee will be performing “Break of Day,” composed by Michael John Trotta. 

The oboe accompaniment will be provided by Isaac Weber, a UNC student and member of UNC's Men’s Glee Club and the Marching Tar Heels.

Women’s Glee will also be performing “Cancion de Los Tsachilas,” arranged by Michael Sample. 

“The second piece is an Ecuadorian song about celebrating the New Year," Klausmeyer said. "It’s in Spanish, and includes the women making jungle sounds. It also has an African drum part.” 

Zelasky said the song is appropriate for the showcase.

 “'Cancion de Los Tsachilas’ talks about harmony among women, which is cool because we’re singing it in a large group of women," she said.

Angie Phillips, choral director at Cedar Ridge High School, one of the participating schools, said her students are excited for the event. 

“They look forward to this event every year — the opportunity to perform at Chapel Hill, to go to Franklin Street and to perform with college students," she said. "The Carolina Women’s Showcase is a unique bonding experience for women’s choirs in the central region of North Carolina.”

Katelyn McIntosh, senior and president of Women’s Glee Club, said she wants young girls to pursue music regardless of career choice. 

“Most of us are not music majors. I’m a science major," she said. "We’re trying to show these high school girls that even if you don’t plan on pursuing singing academically, it’s something you can continue to do for the rest of your life.”

But the event will not only benefit high school girls. McIntosh said proceeds are being donated to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. 

“We’re taking up money from the community for admittance to the concert, but then we’re also giving back as well.”

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