Local students sing songs arranged by music legend

Connor Linskey, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

Nov. 5—STORRS MANSFIELD — Mansfield students of all ages joined together on the evening of October 27 to sing songs arranged by music legend Roger Emerson.

The concert was held in the Mansfield Middle School auditorium. Amanda Hanzlik, director of choral activities at E.O. Smith High School, organized the event. The event was funded by the E.O. Smith Foundation.

Roger Emerson was also on hand to conduct a few of the songs.

According to Emerson's website, he is a professional composer and arranger with more than 900 choral titles in print and more than 30 million copies in circulation.

Emerson's website also states that he has been the recipient of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Standard Award for 20 years running. His works have been performed at iconic venues such as the White House, Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

According to Emerson's website, he is the most widely performed composer/ arranger of popular choral music in the world today.

Hanzlik said that the concert was arranged because of the profound impact Emerson has had on the music industry and how he has influenced many of her colleagues' love of music.

"We all sang and grew to be musicians through Mr. Emerson's songs," Hanzlik said. "It is a profound privilege for us to have him working with our students."

This inspired Hanzlik and the other school's choir directors to name the concert "Choral Lineage," as Emerson inspired their love of music.

The E. O. Smith High School chamber singers, E. O. Smith High School Choir, Mansfield Middle School Choir, Mansfield Elementary School singers and members of the UConn Music Education program all performed during the event.

The E. O. Smith High School chamber singers opened the concert by singing "Both Sides Now" by Joni Mitchell, arranged by Roger Emerson. This marked the first time a choir had ever sung the arrangement.

"It's not even published yet," Hanzlik said before the chamber singers' performance. "So, we're super excited."

The chamber singers followed up that performance by singing two songs that they will perform at Carnegie Hall in March. These were " Eight of Swords" by Melissa Dunphy and "I am Enough" by Roger Emerson and Amanda Hanzlik's son Ethan Hanzlik. The song by Dunphy was the only song not written or arranged by Emerson that was performed during last Thursday's concert.

Emerson was grateful for being invited to the concert last Thursday. He was also thankful for all the students and teachers in Mansfield who love his music.

"Thank you for the love," he said to all the teachers and students.

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