The Mercer University Women’s Chamber Choir is currently preparing for their upcoming concert, “Thanksgiving Song.”

Under the direction of Dr. Stanley Roberts, the all-women’s ensemble has been rehearsing a selection of choral arrangements in celebration of the season of Thanksgiving.

Highlighting selected choral pieces such as “If Music Be the Food of Love” by David Dickau, Roberts said that the musical selections for this concert embrace the themes of giving and love.

The annual “Thanksgiving Song” concert has been performed seasonally at Mercer for around 10 years.

“[It] keeps getting better and better,”  Roberts said.

In a class rehearsal, the Mercer Women’s Chamber Choir seemed jubilant about the upcoming concert and well-rehearsed. Their rehearsal included an acapella arrangement of “The Star Spangled Banner” and the choral piece “Autumn” by Canadian composer Eleanor Daley.  

A feature unique to this year’s concert is that the Mercer Singers will be singing alongside the Mercer Women’s Chamber Choir. The Mercer Singers are a co-ed ensemble, comprised of soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices. In this concert, the choirs will come together to sing the well-known arrangement of “Ave Maria” by Franz Biebl.

“That’s like picking your favorite child,” Roberts said, when asked about his favorite song. Yet, Roberts did go on to say that he is most excited for “Coo Coo Bird,” a bluesy tune arranged by Alice Parker.

Roberts showed all-around excitement for this season’s concert, saying the choir is “so good” this year.

The “Thanksgiving Song” concert will be performed on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 3:00 p.m. in Fickling Hall on the Mercer University campus. For more information on this year’s concert, visit the Townsend School of Music website at music.mercer.edu.