Molly Hart

On January 24, Rye Presbyterian Church resonated with the combined voices of over 130 singers for the 31st annual Festival Chorus Concert. The evening featured Kyle Pederson’s A Vision Unfolding, a powerful and emotionally layered work that explored unity, kindness, and compassion. While the performance itself was moving, the months of preparation behind the scenes made the concert all the more remarkable.

Directed by Music Department Chair and Festival Founding Conductor Mary Marcell, Festival Chorus is unique in its intergenerational makeup. Upper School Concert Choir students rehearsed during the school day, refining musical precision, diction, and ensemble balance in class. Meanwhile, alumni, parents and guardians, faculty and staff, and community members committed to weekly adult chorus rehearsals, held every Monday night at 9:00 p.m. Despite long workdays and busy schedules, the adult singers consistently filled the rehearsal space, a testament to their dedication and love for the tradition.

Those late-night rehearsals focused on blending voices across generations, navigating Pederson’s shifting musical styles, and unpacking the meaning behind the text. A Vision Unfolding is a five-movement, multi-genre piece written for mixed chorus and featuring spoken-word poetry by Shanelle Gabriel, as well as piano, violin, snare drum, and trumpet. Balancing these diverse elements required careful listening and patience, as singers learned not only how their individual lines fit together, but how the music’s message could be communicated as a whole.

When the full chorus finally came together, the effect was striking. The blend of student and adult voices created a rich, layered sound that elevated the work’s themes of social justice and mutual care. The performers embraced moments of stillness and intensity alike, allowing the spoken poetry and instrumental interludes to resonate fully. Rather than overwhelming the audience, the chorus invited reflection, creating a sense of shared experience within the church.

“With these pieces, the choir’s hope was to lift up a vision for a future grounded in connection and empathy, and to bring courage with us on the journey,” shared Ms. Marcell. That intention aligned closely with the 2025-26 RCDS theme of courage, which was woven thoughtfully throughout the performance.

For Ms. Marcell, the concert embodied a quieter, more enduring form of bravery. “Courage is not always loud or triumphant. It often appears as steadiness, compassion, and the willingness to remain open,” she explained. “This music reminds us that light is not something we wait for, but something we carry and share—through kindness, resilience, and the simple act of listening.”

Following the concert, the Parents Association hosted the annual post-show reception, offering singers and audience members the chance to reconnect and celebrate the culmination of months of hard work. Conversations flowed as freely as the music had, reinforcing the sense of community that defines Festival Chorus.