This Saturday, the Whitman Chorale combined with the Whitman Symphony will set its sight high, performing Mozart’s Requiem. At 7:30 in Cordiner Hall, the choral program and the symphony will be presenting their spring concert, directed by Dr. Robert Bode.

“Requiem is a really demanding piece” said first year McKenna Milici.     “There really is no such thing as easy Mozart, but it will be especially challenging to sing for that long.   Amazing, but challenging” she said.

First year Michelle Davenport agreed;   “There are a lot of really high parts.   It will be hard to sing for that long, but the musical themes are absolutely amazing” she said.   Both Milici and Davenport are members of both the Chorale and the Chamber Choir.

Requiem, which Mozart only partially completed before dying, is one of his most famous pieces.   Franz Xaver Süssmayr completed the piece after Mozart’s death.   The Whitman Choral program is able to undertake such a challenging piece because of donations from an alumnus.

“The orchestra, the soloists, music for 100 people, it all gets pretty expensive” said Milici.

The Chamber Choir, which consists of between twenty and thirty students will perform a series of pieces during the first half of the concert.   One of the pieces was commissioned for the Whitman Chamber Chorus.   Another piece, Milici’s favorite, “A Boy and a Girl” is by Eric Whitaker.

“Whitaker sets this interesting, beautiful poetry to absolutely gorgeous cords.     It’s a really beautiful piece,” she said.

Milici was apprehensive of the challenge of such an ambitious concert “I’m nervous about combining with the orchestra.   We have very limited time to practice with them and adding an orchestra is always a whole new bag of marbles.   But I have complete faith in Dr. Bode.   He is an amazing conductor and I have every faith it will all be pulled together for a great performance” she said.

Dr. Robert Bode is the Meisnest Endowed Chair of Humanities. He was also appointed as the artistic director of the Seattle based professional choir, Chorale Arts this last summer. Edward Dixon, associate professor of music will direct the symphony.

Regardless of everything, the Whitman Chorale will be dressed for success.   “The boys wear tuxedos, the girls wear flowing full length black dresses, skirts or pants” said Davenport.