The Concert Choir presented their concert entitled “Rutter’s Requiem” on Sunday, Feb. 7, in Christ the King Chapel.

A Requiem Mass is a mass that is celebrated for the soul of the deceased. So it was only fitting that after the earthquake in Haiti, the D’Angelo Department of Music decided to dedicate its concert to Haiti relief.

The choir’s goal was to raise money to benefit the New Victoria Music School in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. The school was established more than 20 years ago by Romel Joseph, a violinist trained at the Julliard School.

After the earthquake, Joseph was trapped in the wreckage of his school for 18 hours. Both of his legs and his left arm are crushed. His wife and unborn son perished in the quake.

The music department is working with Joseph’s daughter Victoria to help raise funds to rebuild the school.

The main piece of the concert program was the Requiem by John Rutter, but the choir also performed other songs to the community as well.

Maurice Durufle’s “Ubi Caritas” opened the program with the choir at the back of the chapel. Then the choir processed and performed “Let Thy Holy Spirit” by Paul Tschesnokoff.

Once the entire choir was on the stage, they sang “Sicut Cervus” by Giovanni da Palestrina and “Kyrie Eleison” by Hans Leo Hassler.

The Collegiate Singers presented “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen while an offering was passed around to collect money for the New Victorian School.

The choir then performed “Requiem” by John Rutter, which was accompanied by a small orchestra made up of students and professionals. Solos were performed by senior Katie Podyma and junior Lauren Haines.

The community responded generously to the choir and to their efforts to raise money for the New Victoria School.

If you would like to help in any way to the rebuilding of this school, www.walensteinmusic.org has the tools needed to make a contribution.

A drive for instruments to send to the school will run for the rest of the year.

Anyone wishing to donate an instrument, or have any questions about donating, is asked to contact Rebecca Ryan at 824-2061.