Chamber Singers perform: Professor Wayne Kompelien conducts final recital

The Chamber Singers held a spring recital April 15 in the Old Pate Chapel.

After 38 years at Liberty, Wayne Kompelien, professor of music and voice, directed his final recital before his retirement at the end of this academic year.

“Directing this group has been a privilege over all these decades,” Kompelien said. “It’s fun to see the growth in them, and I definitely saw growth in myself, too. The more you do it, the better you get at it.”

Kompelien has led the group to perform complex compositions. The recital program included work from as early as the 16th century as well as some of Kompelien’s own compositions.

“We focus on advanced choral repertoire,” Kompelien said. “What you hear tonight isn’t easy stuff. It’s hard. We have to be very focused when it comes to our practice
and rehearsal time.”

According to the School of Music website, the Chamber Singers perform classical repertoire from the Renaissance to contemporary periods.

“We do almost everything. We do a cappella without any accompaniment at all,” Kompelien said. “That means our intonation has to be spot on. You are out there very exposed and can’t hide behind an accompaniment.”

While Kompelien has accomplished much over his time with the ensemble, he will quickly direct the attention and praise to his students. At this recital, senior Quentin Johnston celebrated the premiere of his own composition, “Not in Vain.”

“It’s based off of 1 Corinthians 15:58,” Johnston said. “That is the passage I needed to come across in the moment I found it.”

Prior to the performance of his work, Johnston introduced the intention behind his composition to the audience. His work shared the scripture from 1 Corinthians 15 and reminded the audience of the good news of the gospel.

Without the help of Kompelien, Johnston is not sure if he would have composed this work.

“(Kompelien) helped bring this song to life,” Johnston said. “It carries the weight even deeper than I thought it would.”

Alongside Johnston, many other ensemble members recognized the ways Kompelien has helped them throughout their educational journey. Graduate student assistant Cole Hoeness has been in the ensemble throughout his undergraduate and graduate education.

“(Kompelien) gives us everything we need to be successful in this group,” Hoeness said. “He cares about all of us, which pushes us to be better musicians.”

In this ensemble, the closeness of the group aids in the members’ ability to sing well together.

“We have to become like one unit,” Kompelien said. “That typically takes time, especially with a group of this many kids. Luckily, this group has been together a lot for about three years. There has been very little turnover. They know each other well and mesh very well.”

Senior Sydney Wenger agrees that students in the group have become like a family.

“When you are closer with people, you sing better together,” senior Sydney Wenger said. “These people have become my family.”

For many members, this is their final time performing in the Old Pate Chapel. However, their time spent in the ensemble left a lasting impression.

“It’s been extremely rewarding especially using what we do to minister,” Kompelien said.

The Chamber Singers will be performing at commencement this spring and for one final tour after finals. For a full list of events, visit this website.

Garman is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion