BVU Bass Savors His Concert Choir Chapel Finale

As Corgan Petersen prepares for his Schaller Chapel group finale on Sunday, he reflects on BVU opportunities that have taken him in song to Hawaii, New York City, New Orleans, and, soon, to Costa Rica.

A Buena Vista University choir career that has taken senior Corgan Petersen to New York City, Boston, Memphis, New Orleans, and more, ends on Sunday, where it began, in venerable Schaller Chapel on campus.

The BVU Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Harmony Murphy, assistant professor of vocal music and director of choral activities, presents “Celebrating Our Neighbors” at 3 p.m. Admission is free.

“Schaller Chapel is a great place to sing,” says Petersen, a music education major from Atlantic. “There are so many things you can do while singing there. We’ve sung while using risers, while not using risers; we’ve sung behind audience, surrounding the audience, and more.”

“Music at BVU has taken me all over the country, from Hawaii to Boston to New York City, where the Carnegie Hall performance was a huge highlight."

Corgan Petersen

Petersen, the choir president and a student conductor on Sunday, is also one of two senior soloists featured in the program. He’ll take center stage during Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “The Vagabond,” while classmate Tara Smith, a mezzo soprano, performs from Jule Styne’s “Some People.”

Other selections from the choir include works by Rene Clausen, Cristian Grases, Kinley Lange, Randall Thompson, Aaron Copland, Alice Parker, and more. Amanda Gunderson will serve as a student conductor in “Let the River Run,” by Carly Simon.

The concert helps place a campus exclamation point of sorts on a BVU music career for Petersen, who steps away from campus next semester while he serves Spencer High School and Sioux Central Middle School as a student-teacher. Immediately following his BVU graduation in May, Petersen will accompany the choir to Costa Rica.

“Music at BVU has taken me all over the country, from Hawaii (with the band, which Petersen serves as a percussionist) to Boston to New York City, where the Carnegie Hall performance was a huge highlight,” he says. “My wife (Alyssa Petersen) sang a solo at Carnegie Hall during her trip there with the BVU choir.”

His musical talent and drive have enabled him to experience the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor and the 9-11 Memorial in Manhattan. “I’m big into history. Those trips for BVU music were fun, but also extremely impactful,” says Petersen, who presents his senior recital on Nov. 24.

Petersen, who plans to teach either instrumental or vocal music in a school next fall, says he couldn’t help but find his way into a musical career. His parents, after all, named him after Billy Corgan, who fronts their favorite band, The Smashing Pumpkins.

“My mom was in band in high school, and my dad taught himself to play guitar,” Petersen says. “I guess it’s only fitting that I got into music, too.”

The choir concert begins a busy week for musicians at BVU. AT 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, BVU Jazz and Blues presents a concert in Anderson Auditorium. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, The Underground serves as the venue for a concert by the BVU Rock Ensemble.

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