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Episcopal’s Spring Choral Concert Showcases Baroque Masterpieces
On April 8, the EHS Concert Choir performed alongside the National Chamber Players, who have been in residence at Episcopal since 2004. Led by Dr. Mike Schmidt, Episcopal’s director of strings and choral music, the ensemble brought together students, faculty, staff, and members of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Arlington to celebrate the beauty and power of Baroque music.
The concert began with Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen,” a rare and technically demanding church cantata. Episcopal welcomed soprano Erinn Sensenig, a professional singer based in New York City, to perform the solo piece. Known for her interpretation of Baroque works, Sensenig gave students the chance to learn from and perform alongside a working artist at the top of her craft.
The second half of the evening featured Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” a choral work composed around 1715 for young women at the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice. Schmidt chose “Gloria” after a conversation with a colleague. Once word of the selection reached campus, many faculty and staff who had previously performed the song in high school or college asked to join the ensemble, which grew to more than 40 voices.
“The students experienced what it means to live music, not just study it,” Schmidt said. “They rehearsed with professional musicians and ultimately delivered a performance that honored the depth and beauty of the music.”
