The Big Time

This was the long-awaited moment

The spotlight was shining brightly on singers from Radford University from one of the world’s most famous stages. Every footstep to their marks onstage reverberated through the hall. An audience filled with supporters of the arts watched with anticipation. And, then, their unforgettable moment began.

The voices, seemingly flawless, harmonized on the Ronald O. Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The impeccably melodic vocalists stood on a platform that has hosted the world’s most distinguished musicians. But, for the Radford University Singers, acclaimed now in their own right, this wasn’t the time to stand in awe. They were focused on singing the right pitch, watching for cues and listening for harmony among their neighbors, all while making history for the University. This marked the first time a group from Radford University has performed on that stage.

The Radford University Singers were performing as part of the National Concerts women’s chorus on February 16, 2020. The group was one of five ensembles made up of high school and college singers and was the largest group at the concert. Thirty-nine women traveled to Carnegie Hall from Radford University by bus.

Meredith Bowen, D.M.A., director of choral activities and assistant professor of music at Radford University, soaked in every moment.

“To be onstage and to hear the women and that ethereal sound of them coming together and all the energy and all that focus,” Bowen said. “I was in tears, and I do not get that way. It was so moving and a beautiful experience. I think it was life-changing for a lot of people, including myself.”

She directed the group onstage and had a perfect view of this experience.

“There is a certain energy that happens when a group comes together with a single focus,” Bowen said. “Our hearts start to beat together when we sing together. That’s one of the special things about singing in a choir. We’re all breathing together, and our hearts beat as one, and everybody without exception was in it to win it.”

Bowen helped lead the singers to this remarkable moment thanks to connections she made throughout her accomplished career. Through grants and those connections, she helped commission a friend, composer Andrea Clearfield, D.M.A., to craft a piece that evolved into a 15-minute work with three movements. Other connections led Bowen to National Concerts, a New York City-based company that offers performance collaborations for choirs at Carnegie Hall and other venues throughout the United States. The company offered to premier Clearfield’s piece at Carnegie Hall, and the women of the Radford University Singers started their journey to New York.

Bowen said the vetted group that made the trip jumped on board to an amazing level.

“That’s the best they have ever sung. That’s the best that any choir has sung since I’ve been here,” Bowen said.

As their voices resonated through the hall, the marquee outside clearly celebrated the momentous occasion. Under the theme of the concert, “What is Home?”, was a familiar name that made them all proud to see in person — the Radford University Singers.

It was a surreal moment for Bowen, who once sat high in the hall, far from the stage, dreaming of performing on the stage below. That moment arrived for her and her students from various backgrounds, majors and experiences.

“Singing is a skill, not a talent,” Bowen said. “We had at least 10 students onstage at Carnegie who were not music students. That’s what a little perseverance, determination and grit can yield.”

This was a mountaintop experience for the women. They sang three songs as an ensemble, then collaborated with other groups throughout the performance. The partnerships and connections they made added to the experience.

The singers spent months before the concert perfecting their voices. When they arrived in New York City, they practiced hours more with industry insiders to gain more knowledge of their craft. All this work prepared them for that long-awaited moment.

“That was the energy I’ve been trying to find for the last four years for these folks. They were all there, singularly focused,” Bowen said.