The Linfield University Concert Choir made history on March 13, 2025. The ensemble shared the famed Carnegie Hall stage with choirs from Baylor University and Bridgewater State University. Together, the nearly 200-voice National Masterwork Chorus performed the world premiere of Andrea Ramsey’s groundbreaking composition, “The Wilderness of You.”
Ramsey is a composer, conductor, scholar and music educator. Before leaping into full time composing and guest conducting, she held positions at The Ohio State University and the University of Colorado Boulder. An award-winning composer with over 150 works to date, she believes strongly in the creation of new music. A native of Arkansas, Ramsey has experienced in her own life the power of music to provide a sense of community, better understanding of our humanity and rich opportunities for self-discovery.
In “The Wilderness of You”, Ramsey adapted the naturalist and perspective-shifting poetry of Jarod K. Anderson in an approximately twenty-five minute work. The piece pulls listeners toward those things people most have in common: the inner workings and wonder of human bodies.
For Linfield University students, performing at the iconic Carnegie Hall was a momentous occasion. Many members were overwhelmed by the experience, with some unable to hold back tears of joy as they stepped off the stage. One choir member described the moment as “a surreal experience,” reflecting the deep emotional and artistic impact of performing in such a legendary setting.
The Linfield Concert Choir returns to McMinnville to perform “The Wilderness of You” on the Linfield University McMinnville Campus. The choir performs the Oregon premiere of this powerful work at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2025, in the university’s Richard and Lucille Ice Auditorium inside Melrose Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.
Learn more about upcoming arts events at linfield.edu/arts.
