Rivalry in an Upbeat Key

March 26, 2007

Exeter's Glee Club, Concert Choir and Chamber Orchestra are busy practicing for this weekend's Exeter/Andover concert

Two great schools meet to compete – it's a story we all know. This time, Exeter and Andover are playing together – musically. No Red Bandits. No uniforms. Instead, Schubert: Mass in G, Pinkham: Wedding Cantata and Whitacre: Go Lovely Rose. And, for a change, the event takes place on both campuses – you can hear Exeter's Glee Club, Concert Choir and Chamber Orchestra joined by the Andover Chorus, Fidelio and Orchestra at Andover on March 31 or at Exeter on April 1.

"The spirit of collaboration and community makes this concert unique," says Ryan Turner, Exeter's concert series director. "I do not know of any other event in which so many students from both schools share the joy of music together, and the importance of the arts in education."

Exeter and Andover have a tradition of communal concerts going way back. But, the two schools have not joined together musically for more than five years. In this reprise of a tradition, Turner and Christopher Walter, Andover's choral conductor, will conduct over 150 students.

For many of the students, this concert is a great opportunity to perform with new musicians. It's "a chance to change things because I sing with the same choir year-round," says Lynn Ann, an upper. Winnie, a violinist, concurs: "It will be fun and beneficial to our music program to learn from other conductors and musicians."

Others view the concert as a way to sing new life into the old rivalry. "I can't wait to take the Andover relationship to a different level," explains Conor, an upper who was inspired by stories from an Exeter alum who sang with Andover as a student in the 50s. "I want to work with them, not against them. It's a chance to work with some great people I wouldn't have met otherwise."

Mike, a senior who has performed for four years with the Concert Choir, Glee Club and the a cappella group Exeteras, adds, " In the tradition of any rivalry, we are extremely competitive when it comes to the result of the Homecoming Game, but I think everyone's combined talent will produce an excellent concert." Lynn Ann isn't perturbed at all about the famed rivalry. "The traditional relationship between Exeter and Andover doesn't affect the concert because we aren't competing for an athletic accomplishment. Instead, we are working together to make music which is great!"

The students will be joined by voice faculty soloists: Susan Consoli, soprano; Allan Combs, tenor; and Mark Andrew Cleveland, bass.

Interested in learning more?
Check out Exeter's music department…
Learn about Exeter's student musical organizations…  
Read the press release about the concert…
See the list of upcoming musical events at Exeter…
Read the What's My Day Like? website feature to see how Exonians study music...