In a performance described by the capacity audience in Lincoln Hall as “heavenly”, “uplifting” and “a blessing”, the extraordinarily talented singers in the Grove City College Touring Choir directed by Dr. Katherine Mueller performed a March 29, 2026 Palm Sunday concert in Lincoln Hall with programming that ranged from Palestrina, Hadyn’s Creation and Mozart to a spiritual and works by contemporary American composers Leonard Bernstein, Eric Whitaker and John Rutter.
The beautiful weather allowed the choir to assemble on the patio for their warm up before their entrance to Lincoln Hall.
The touring choir received a hearty standing ovation from ARCA’s overflowing audience in Lincoln Hall for their magnificent and truly inspiring performance. Many in the audience were moved to tears.
Their performances were musically elegant, emotionally evocative, and vocally glorious with shimmering colors.
The richly diverse program soared spiritually with breathtaking moments as in Caroline Shaw’s “and the swallow” with the text excerpted from Psalm 84:
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young
As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.”
“Elijah Rock” arranged by Moses Hogan got the audience rocking and “Let Everything That hath Breath” by Jeffrey Ames had the audience clapping along – accompanied by choristers Peter Hasse, electric bass, and Hannah Terebessy, tambourine.
Choir members were featured in solos and trios with the choir.
Chorister Nora Russell conducted “The Heavens are Telling” from Franz Joseph Haydn’s Creation.
The chorus concluded their program with John Rutter’s “God Be In My Head”.
The audience was grateful to have ARCA bring this superb choir to Lincoln Hall in the program they had performed on their spring tour in seven states and also as part of Grove City College’s 150th Anniversary concert in Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Music Hall.
The audience ranged from three-year-old Lincoln Dreher with his grandparents John and Sherry Dreher…
To nonagenarian David Diffenderfer pictured here with Ann Souzer, Marybeth Hinds Steffee and Ginny Hill.
And a joy to introduce two Shenandoah Conservatory graduates to each other – Dr. Katherine Mueller and Allegheny-Clarion Valley School choir director Jennifer Powell Lowrey (who has two daughters who also graduated from Shenandoah) attending with her mother Cathy Powell.
ARCA is grateful for the generosity of ARCA Board members Bob and Pat Beran, who not only sponsored the concert but also have advocated for bringing choral singing to Lincoln Hall again. The Grove City College Touring Choir first appeared in Lincoln Hall in the 2017 season.
What fun it was to meet students and enjoy their comradery after the concert as ARCA provided a pizza supper for GCC Touring Choir members at Foxburg Pizza.
Alex Diiorio, Foxburg Pizza’s new manager said, “What an incredible group of young adults! Your talent, energy, and kindness truly made an impression on all of us!”
The choir sang a touching choral thank you for the delicious variety of pizzas and cookies provided by Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts at Foxburg Pizza – prepared by their wonderful staff and served by Alex Diiorio on behalf of Foxburg Hospitality.
It was a great send off for the choir – who also left with a few pizzas for the bus. Thank you, Alex and Foxburg Pizza!
Sincere gratitude to Dr. Katherine Mueller for bringing the Grove City College Touring Choir ARCA’s Lincoln Hall on Palm Sunday – for an inspirational beginning of Holy Week. We can’t wait to bring them back!
