The Middlebury College Community Chorus filled Robison Hall with a heartfelt and powerful performance that celebrated love, humanity and the spirit of community on April 11. The free concert featured nearly 70 non-auditioned chorus members from the college and surrounding towns, and was conducted by Ronnie Romano ’20.
Anchoring the program was “So We Try,” a major new work composed by Peter Buffett and arranged for the chorus by Peter Kiesewalter. The concert also included pieces by both Felix Mendelssohn and Vermont-based composer Dorothy Robson — who was in attendance — as well as a vibrant new arrangement of “All You Need Is Love” by the Beatles — “In other words, a little bit of everything!” declared the concert program.
The performance opened with “Sing On!” by Vince Peterson, followed by the first set of “So We Try,” which included four miniatures: “A Grand Derealization,” “Another,” “Take the Blame,” and “Chasing This Table.” These were followed by Mendelssohn’s “Mitten wir im Leben sind,” directed by assistant conductor Alex Van Sant. This portion of the concert, titled “Revelation,” delved into themes of despair and emotional struggle.
“It’s kind of metaphorical ‘down in the dumps, in the pits of despair,’” Romano said during the performance. “We’ve now hit rock bottom, and now it’s time to go to a happier place.”
All the songs in this section echoed these emotional low points and set the stage for the transformation that followed.
The middle portion of the program, titled “Possibility,” offered a shift in tone with pieces such as “A Star Shines,” “New Day,” “Onward” and “Here for the Ride.” Highlights included “Against Despair” by Edward Thompson, which brought a sense of hope and resilience to the stage, and “Winter Wheat” by Dorothy Robson with strong local roots. Dorothy and her husband, Dick were founding directors of the Rochester-based White River Valley Players. “Winter Wheat,” with lyrics by Dick and music by Dorothy, reflects their deep connection to Vermont’s land and community, capturing themes of endurance, renewal and the quiet beauty of rural life.
Romano shared the inspiration behind the recent performance, discussing the origins of his interest in Dorothy Robson’s work
“I first encountered Winter Wheat in its original setting, as part of an original musical based on local Vermont history called “Rochester Light and Power.” It comes from the time of the women’s suffrage movement in the early 20th century and speaks of sowing seeds for future generations. The piece impacted me so much that I asked the composer, Dorothy Robson, to rearrange it for chorus and piano from its original version,” Romano wrote in an email to The Campus.
He added that the impact of one’s legacy upon the world as explored in Robson’s song spoke powerfully to him.
“We all can sow seeds of love and sustainability that we may not see come to fruition in our own lifetimes, but that may change the course of the world forever. I feel this piece added a necessary element of hope and promise to our concert program,” Romano wrote.
The final section of the concert, titled “Love,” tackled the most universal and profound theme of all. This section included the concluding movements of “So We Try—Start Again,” “Someone’s Child,” “So We Try” and “Time to Walk Away,” which were all brought to life with warmth and sincerity. Both composer Peter Buffett and arranger Peter Kiesewalter attended the show, experiencing their work performed live in this intimate community setting.
Following this set was “To My Old Brown Earth” by Pete Seeger and Paul Halley, which Romano described as “a sweet hug.” To close the evening, the chorus performed a jubilant arrangement of “All You Need Is Love.” As the song filled the hall, audience members joined in clapping and singing, creating a moment of collective joy and connection.
The concert was more than a performance — it was a journey. From cold to warmth, from despair to love, it condensed the world’s emotional landscape into one unforgettable evening. In that hall, music brought a community together and reminded everyone that, in the end, love is what unites us all.
