The 2021 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and Community Choral Workshop: Featuring Guest Composer Elaine Hagenberg

Elaine Hagenberg

On March 22-23, the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Department of Music & Theatre hosted their third College and Community Choral Workshop, bringing together high school and college choral students with choral professionals. The project was conceived and organized by Michael Boswell, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities. This year's guest artist was composer Elaine Hagenberg. The workshop was made possible by a 2021 Arts Project Support grant through Arts Illiana and the Indiana Arts Commission, which receives support from the State of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts. The project was also supported by a City of Terre Haute Arts Grant, a program of the Mayor’s Office.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the workshops were held virtually as Hagenberg and Michael Boswell, also a professional chorister, met with the choirs of Terre Haute North Vigo High School directed by Michelle Azar, Terre Haute South Vigo High School directed by Paul Ellison, and North Montgomery High School in Crawfordsville, directed by Sarah Kavanagh.

Members from the three high school choirs joined the SMWC Choirs in creating a virtual choir video of Hagenberg’s “O, Love” that will be released at the end of the Spring 2021 semester. 

Boswell introducing Hagenberg
to SMWC students and faculty 

"Every single one of us is creative." - Elaine Hagenberg

As Hagenberg greeted everyone, her cheerful disposition and passion for music stimulated an energetic environment. From sharing her journey of becoming a composer to what inspires her, students had the opportunity to be inspired by her words and works.

Initially, Hagenberg didn't plan on becoming a composer, but she had a long love for music. She sang in various choirs growing up and played piano as a rehearsal accompanist. As an accompanist, she unintentionally began studying scores, learning more about the format of choral pieces. In college, Hagenberg studied piano and participated in choir, occasionally having written songs, but nothing that she had ever considered getting published. In addition to her love of music and choral music in particular, Hagenberg loves poetry and being creative which is exhibited in all of her compositions.

Hagenberg greeting workshop attendees

As Hagenberg settled down to raise a family, she began delving into the world of composition as a creative outlet without having any intention or goal of working as a composer full-time. Eventually, she entered a composition competition and one of her pieces won. This set off a string of connections to eventually publishing her first work. Soon after, people were reaching out asking her for commissioned pieces and to teach clinics.

After talking about her background, students raised questions regarding Hagenberg's inspirations, particular pieces she has composed, and her creative process. Many questions were posed from the curious students. Hagenberg revealed that she is inspired in all areas of her life such as her life experiences, family, friends, travels, nature, photography, dance, poetry, etc. Whenever she is inspired by something, she considers this the beginning of a journey and discovery as she composes. "Words always, always, always, come first," Hagenberg explained when asked about her creative process. For her, words inform the music and determine every other part of the composition such as the contour of the melody, harmony, and accompaniment. By taking beautiful words and adding another layer, Hagenberg hopes to "paint a story" through her compositions. Hagenberg prefers to write through-composed pieces (or, continuous and non-sectional) to let the words and music tell the story in a more natural way. She typically starts by thinking of the melody related to the poetry she has chosen for the lyrics. Although her process isn't as visual, she does consider what images are conjured up based on her pieces to create videos featuring beautiful nature scenes to accompany her pieces.

As a pianist, Hagenberg also feels passionately about the role of the piano accompaniments in her pieces. Instead of acting as support and background to the singing, she considers her accompaniments to play a collaborative role. The piano often sets the scene in her compositions to draw in her audience. As a fan of Romantic composers such as Chopin and Brahms, Hagenberg likes to draw inspiration from their compositions. She hopes that her pieces have similar lush, full, and rubato sounds as the classical music that inspires her. Recently, she has also delved into including strings into her compositions, and she hopes to continue to branch out as a composer.

Hagenberg explaining her creative process

During the workshop, Hagenberg discussed a few of her pieces in particular, including "Song of Miriam", "As the Rain Hides the Stars", "Deep Peace", and "O, Love". For her composition, "Deep Peace", Hagenberg revealed that she often enjoys creating a "sound world", particularly when she is inspired by nature. Oftentimes, the "best stuff comes from far away" she explained. When she isn't working, moments of inspiration strike helping to create a soundtrack to her life that informs her compositions. Deeply personal and meaningful, Hagenberg's compositions seem to surround people with feelings of love and beauty. In addition to her commissioned works, Hagenberg has also written songs inspired by her children including "Goodnight, Love" and her own version of "This is My Father's World".

With everyone having different experiences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Hagenberg was asked how her life had changed. Being unable to travel as she typically would, Hagenberg worked from home. As her home and work life were disrupted, Hagenberg adjusted just as everyone else did. She spent time with her children and worked on long-term projects that she hadn't gotten the opportunity to put as much time into with a normal work schedule. Hagenberg hopes her compositions "offer healing, hope, and beauty" that are a wonderful message in times of struggle or uncertainty.

Hagenberg answering students' questions

"What you see is what you get," Hagenberg explained. Upon being asked about her well-known status as a composer, Hagenberg revealed that she doesn't consider herself to be any different than everyone else. "Don't be my fan, be my friend," she said with laugh. Despite her popularity, Hagenberg stays humble and authentic, reveling in the connections she has made throughout her career thus far. 

As the workshop neared its end, Hagenberg shared some advice: "You don't know where life will take you, so have as many musical experiences as possible. Be open and willing to discover."

Blog Post Author: Autumn Wilson, SMWC music therapy major
Blog Editor: Sharon R. Boyle, Chair of the Department of Music and Theatre

Peace Park, Ireland National Museum of Country Life, Westport Concert

The County Mayo memorial at Peace Park

Outside Church of the Holy Trinity.
When you see a picture of yourself, of course, you take a picture of yourself beside it!

Today was filled with a variety of performances and experiences...

First we walked to the Peace Park and Garden of Remembrance just down the road from our inn. It is a memorial to those from County Mayo who lost their lives in war, beginning with World War I. It is an impressive and touching monument. The main feature is a large wall etched with the names of people who were killed in war, but on either side of the walkway to the large wall, there are smaller ones which contain the names of men from County Mayo who fought under the flags of other nations. We were asked to attend, alongside the choir from Canada, because many immigrants would wind up in the United States and Canada. Each choir sang their national anthem, a few selections on the topic of peace and remembrance, and had the honor of raising our respective country's flag and lay wreaths at the monuments of our country. They asked for two for each task, so having three seniors, it only seemed fitting to have them take part. So Shea Davis and Kristin Foster raised the American flag, while Michael and Sara Langenberger placed the wreaths at the memorials.

The USA Memorial at Peace Park

Then we were off to Turlough Village to visit a high tower, have lunch, and tour and perform at the Ireland National Museum of Country Life. The museum is very nice and very informative. The building itself is very neat, having won various architectural awards.You can find out more about it here. We sang 8 selections for a nice-sized crowd who gathered to hear us. These more informal concerts have started to become some of our favorites. Folks immediately come up to speak with you, find out about you, and almost always we learn that we have something in common. One gentleman that heard us at Peace Park actually made the drive to hear us again, and gave us a book he recently wrote as a gift.

Afterwards, we went back to the inn and relaxed for almost an hour and a half, and picked up dresses for the concert tonight in Westport. First though, we stopped and had dinner at a restaurant on the coast called 'The Helm.' Being so close to Clew Bay, most of us had seafood. It was all very good!

Church of the Holy Trinity - Westport.
Down the road from where we stayed
last year when we learned about this festival!

This concert was amazing. All the choirs were very good, and we found the two all-girl high school choirs to be exceptionally fine. We also sang really well - the stronger bond we have forged on this journey is evident on our music-making. We were surprised when we received a standing ovation after our third piece! Including another one at the end, we had two!

It feels that the local audiences really like us, and I think it's because we remind them of themselves. I think that like Ireland, and especially the western part of the country, we are small but can do great things. All the choirs here are bigger than us, often substantially. But when they see this small group rise and sing with skill and full-throated passion, they appreciate it. Their responses have been nothing but filled with love, respect, and appreciation.

Post-concert at Turlough.

Tomorrow is the competition day. This will be a new thing for us and we can't fully know what to expect. As previously mentioned, we are substantially the smallest ensemble competing in our two categories. And many of our competitors have won other competitions before. So we don't really have an idea of how things will go when the judges cast their votes. But we do know this; we have already won the hearts of many local Irish and many touring Americans. And we will win more tomorrow regardless of the results. #SmallChoirBigHearts

Inside the Church of the Holy Trinity

Ireland National Museum of Country Life.
Very Interesting!

Blog Post Author: Michael Boswell, Director of SMWC Madrigals

Blog Editor: Sharon R. Boyle, Associate Professor of Undergraduate Music Therapy

For more information about the SMWC music and theatre programs, please visit our website!

SMWC Homecoming Choral Concert 2015: There's No Place Like...Home

Pictured: SMWC Choirs with SP Schola Cantorum
Photo Credit: Anthony Dinkel

Another Homecoming at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has come and gone, but the connections remain. The theme of this year's Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Chorale and Madrigals Homecoming Concert was "There's No Place Like...Home". The music chosen for the program by Michael Boswell, Director of Choirs, truly emphasized this theme in many ways.

The concert opened with a piece entitled "Hark! On the Windswept Breton Shore" by LaFarge. The SMWC Chorale was joined by the Sisters of Providence Schola Cantorum providing a musical representation of their connection. 

Pictured: Madrigals with Michael Boswell
Photo Credit: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

The SMWC Madrigals then performed two pieces. The first was "The Angels Will Guide You Home" by Eleanor Daley, describing a Heavenly home, and the second piece was a beautiful arrangement by Andrea Ramsey titled "Travelin' Home". This piece also featured Sharilyn Spicknall playing violin. The beauty of this piece is difficult to articulate, but as the choir sang the word home at the very end, the violin sounded a sustained note to create such a peaceful moment. Here is a short clip from the beginning of this piece during the rehearsal prior to the concert.

Pictured: Alumnae and Student Choir chat during rehearsal break
Photo Credit: Sharon R. Boyle

The SMWC Chorale and twenty-five returning Alumnae then came together to sing several pieces. Director Michael Boswell spoke a few words before they began:

"We have alum singers returning this year whose graduation dates range from 1968-2015, and I think many of them may still feel like their returning today is a return home. Faculty and staff may work here for decades, literally raising their families here, but they are often connected to other institutions and other geographical locations as well. Still, I believe many of us consider Saint Mary-of-the-Woods to be 'home.' So, what is it about this place that holds on to all of us? There is certainly a special spiritual element here. On that, I think we can all agree. But what else is it?...this is a place where you feel connected to others. This is a place where you feel like part of a community. This is a place where you have importance. I think that what we have that makes this place feel like home, is each other."

Pictured: Current SMWC music students
Photo Credit: Sharon R. Boyle

The first piece, "Come to Shore" by Audrey Snyder was followed by "Never Far From Home" by Mark Patterson. The full sound of the Chorale and Alumnae longingly singing the text "I leave the hills that I have known, the woods and meadows I have roamed. The journey calls and I must go, but I will never be far from home" brought tears to some audience members' eyes.

The final piece "Like a Tree", by Margaret Douroux/Arr. Lon Beery, was a gospel piece encompassing challenges to be overcome, but also spoke of not giving up and remaining strong:

Just like a tree that's planted by the water, 

I shall not be moved.

Pictured Hanna Mills and Sidnie Crowley
Photo Credit: Sharon R. Boyle

Though the winds are blowing all around me, 

I shall not be moved.

These winds will never last. This storm is sure to pass. 

This trial is just a test. So I shall not be moved. 

Though winds of affliction sweep over my soul,

And billows and storm clouds continue to roll, 

I shall not be moved!

Pictured: SMWC Chorale and Alumnae
Photo Credit: Sharon R. Boyle

The concert ended with the singing of the three traditional songs song every year at Homecoming:
Our Lady of Providence.........
by Rose Angela Horan, S.P./Cecilia Clare Bocard, S.P.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Song......
by Gertrude Smith, S.P./Dorothy Newland '32
The Ring Song.....
by SMWC Class of 1962

As all other alumnae who were present in the church, along with all current students and Sisters of Providence, stood in a circle around the sanctuary singing "The Ring Song", one-by-one, each slowly reached out and held the hand of the person standing next to them. One-by-one, they began to link the circle by holding hands as the melody rang throughout the church. Those singing and those listening were filled with a sense of belonging to something special, of feeling connected to everyone in that space and all those who had come before...and some shed tears. There has been struggle and yet there is always hope for those who return year after year to reconnect and feel the true sense of community.

As we wait for our next return "home" to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College through a reunion or Homecoming, let us consider these words by Hildegard of Bingen:

Everything that is in the heavens, on earth, and under the earth

is penetrated with connectedness, penetrated with relatedness.

 

Pictured: Danielle and Roni O'Connor, alums
Photo Credit: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Photo Credit: Anthony Dinkel

Pictured: Accompanist, Ronald D. Maurey
Photo Credit: Sharon R. Boyle

List of students and alumnae present at Homecoming Concert

Rehearsal of Chorale and Alumnae Choir

Michael Boswell, Director
Ronald D. Maurey, Accompanist
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Maurey

Photo Credit: Sharon R. Boyle

Day 4 of SMWC Choir Tour: Rehearsal, Remembrance, and Reconnecting

We are making the most of our moments here in New York City. Because of the time change, we ended up getting on the bus by 8:00 a.m. (which felt like 7:00 a.m. due to the time change) to make sure the choir was a few minutes early for their morning rehearsal. While the students rehearsed at Park Central Hotel, the rest of the group dispersed to different areas of Manhattan (some went to the top of the Empire State Building, while others returned to Central Park to try out the Boathouse Restaurant for appetizers and coffee). Because rehearsal went to 12:30 p.m., the group ate various snacks and food which were provided on the bus (Thanks also goes to Jessica Schmidt of SMWC who helped contribute to the food holdings!) as they headed down to the 9/11 Memorial, arriving ahead of their 2:00 reserved time. The security was high, as one would expect, but very efficient and fast. Michael was constantly counting and recounting everyone to make sure the group stayed together!

South Tower Memorial

The Survivor Tree

The 9/11 Memorial is outside, and occupies 8 of the 16 acres of the World Trade Center (source). There are identical reflecting pools with waterfall features flanking the entire expanse of the pool. In the center is a smaller square in each pool, through which the waterfalls continue to cascade down. The names of each victim from both the 1993 WTC bombing and those from the 9/11/01 attack are engraved around the perimeter of each pool. There are spaces where the names are engraved, providing a place for loved ones to leave flowers in remembrance of those lost, often on their birthdays and other important holidays. The sense of loss can be felt as one watches the water flow swiftly down the sides of the pool and into the smaller hole...possibly symbolizing the falling which occurred in those places, as the towers fell. The somber feeling of the place impacted the students, and it was evident on many faces. It is hard to believe that most of the students on the trip were in elementary school (1st through 5th grade) when this event occurred.

Freedom Tower 

Hope was evident, though, in the rainbows which were seen as the sun reflected on each pool of water. The mist that rose up and blew in the wind was akin to a release of pain and sadness giving way to an optimistic future. And, standing between the the site of where the two towers stood was a tree, called The Survivor Tree. While all other trees in the vicinity were completely demolished during the event, the Survivor Tree lost its top portion. The stump that remained was salvaged from the rubble, nursed back to health, and new limbs sprouted from the stump. The limbs are smooth and markedly different from the rest of the tree, and is a visible reminder of the events of that day. The tree is now a symbol of resilience and hope, of survival and the circle of life. As the guide who was present described the destruction and how the towers fell, he also spoke of the tree which was blown over in the blast at St. Paul's Church, not far from building 5 of the WTC. The tree root was large and many believe it protected the church from destruction and, in effect, allowed it to become a major center for rescue workers and first responders. All of these stories and symbols do not take away the atrocities of that day (and the aftermath), but they do provide comfort and a sense of peace that hope can sustain through even the worst experiences.

Subway adventures!

Following the Memorial visit, the group took the subway back up to Times Square where several managed to secure discounted tickets at the Tickets Booth located there for Broadway (such as Chicago and Avenue Q) and off Broadway shows. There was a little free time and then everyone headed to John's Pizzeria on West 44th Street in the Theatre District for dinner with alumnae, President King, the SMWC Student Life-Sponsored Trip, and several SMWC staff and Cabinet members. The New York style pizza as a buffet provided everyone an opportunity to sample a variety of different kinds of pizza before heading off to various entertainment planned for the evening. For those without specific plans, some chose to find areas out of the windy and cold evening (such as the lower level of Rockefeller Center) to sit and relax (a few have discussed the fact that we all should have worn pedometers to measure the actual distance walked in just three days!).

A highlight of the dinner was the presence of Sister Marie Brendan, who is a former Director of Choirs (she started the Madrigals!) and truly solidified the legacy and choral traditions upon which Michael Boswell (and of course Sr. Sue Pietrus, his predecessor) continues to build today.

Architecture abounds: The roof of our pizzeria!

The Choral Tradition of SMWC continues...

Teachers and students: Such a special bond

More photos from the trip to enjoy:

Many hours on a bus together =
a level of goofiness which is hard to define

Returning from seeing Chicago, the Musical!

Photo Credit: Aleah Wieland (from Day 3!)