Willow Rodriguez
A&E Editor
The College of Wooster kicked off Homecoming Weekend on Friday, Sept. 19, with its annual Celebration of the Arts concert in McGaw Chapel. This featured performances by the Scot Marching Band, Pipe Band, Wooster Chorus and the Department of Theatre and Dance. The concert is held each year to welcome alumni and families to campus. This year, it was emceed by Steve Crawford, assistant vice president of alumni and family engagement.
The College of Wooster Pipe Band, directed by Adjunct Instructor of Bagpipes Palmer Shonk and Adjunct Instructor of Scottish Drumming Sean Lawry, opened the concert with a 4/4 march titled “Moonstar & MacRae Meadow” by Charlie Glendinning. The band emerged from behind the pews, marching onstage as their bagpipes echoed throughout the chapel. They followed with a 6/8 march, “Bonnie Dundee,” before exiting to enthusiastic applause.
Next, the Wooster Chorus, led by director Christin Sears, took the stage. Accompanied by pianist Toni Shreve, they opened with a bold, resonant performance of “Sing a Mighty Song” by Daniel E. Gawthrop. The chorus then transitioned to the a cappella piece “To Be Sung on the Water” by Samuel Barber, followed by a stirring rendition of Carly Simon’s “Let the River Run.” Simon’s piece featured Shreve on piano and Henry Mattison ’27 on percussion. Their thoughtful song selection and confident stage presence left a strong impression.
The program continued with “Dancing through Pavement Pools,” a composition by Ethan Yoder ’25. Yoder’s piece was performed by Noah Hankin ’26, on the violin, and Jacob Hankin ’26, on the piano. The piece began with bright, water-like piano motifs before swelling with the addition of the violin. The performance ended on a quiet, introspective note, honoring Yoder’s original work.
The Department of Theatre and Dance followed with an excerpt from “An Iliad” by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare, a satirical interpretation of Homer’s epic. Under the direction of Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre and Dance Kerstin Vaughn, students opened the act with rhythmic percussion using unconventional objects such as brooms and cups. The following monologues blended humor and commentary, adding theatrical depth to the evening.
Next, a group of dancers performed “Genesis,” choreographed by Assistant Professor of Theatre and Dance and Wooster alumna Emily Baird ’16. With birdlike movements across the stage to Enya’s “Boadicea” and “The River Sings,” the dancers began and ended on the ground, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life.
The Scot Marching Band closed the evening, directed by Ryan Kilgore and Assistant Director Jeffrey D. Gershman. They performed pieces from their football game repertoire, beginning with “Scot Fanfare” by Andrew Yozviak and continuing with medleys arranged by Stuart Ling, including “Score Wooster” and “Black & Gold.” The band also played a blend of “Nature Boy” by Eden Ahbez and “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry. In a fitting finale, the Scot Marching Band and Pipe Band joined together for “Exit Scotland” by Yozviak, ending the show in a unified pose amid flashes of black and gold.
The Celebration of the Arts concert set an energetic and reflective tone for the weekend, showcasing the creativity and talent of Wooster’s performing arts community while welcoming alumni and families back to campus.
