Remembering history and heritage through art

BY RAQUEL ROMO
Cardinal Staff

The performed narrative “Let Us Remember” will celebrate Saint Mary’s University’s history and accomplishments prior to and during Family Weekend, Oct. 4-6.

“Let Us Remember” is a program that was written and will be directed by 1979 SMU alumnus and Dean of the School of the Arts Michael Charron.

The program will consist of a new arrangement of compositions composed by SMU Director of Choirs Patrick O’Shea, Ph.D., and SMU Director of Jazz Eric Heukeshoven.

“We have been working on these music creations since the beginning of last school year until this past January,” said O’Shea. “I am very curious to see how everything falls into place.”

According to O’Shea, the program will allow SMU’s history to be explained and celebrated while allowing the School of the Arts to create new music compositions and dance routines that give students “a platform to show off their talents.”

This Centennial show includes monologues performed by students from the theatre department. Sophomore Ashley Curry will be presenting one of many monologues for “Let Us Remember.”

“I am excited to be representing someone close to my heritage. Not only do I feel proud, but I also look at it as an honor to be recounting my character’s story,” said Curry.  “The whole idea is fascinating, has amazing potential and has a great representation of the school’s history.”

Additional features of the program include a piece based on the words of Saint John Baptist de La Salle and the performance of music by SMU’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers that was debuted in the Convocation held earlier this school year.

With a mix of fanfare, concert band and an arrangement of melodies, O’Shea hopes these new compositions will be used for the Centennial show as well as other occasions.