Big Gig in a Big Hall for Liturgy Arts Group

BY ROSANNE PELLEGRINI STAFF WRITER

The joke is a classic.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice.

The Liturgy Arts Group (LAG) of Boston College has had both plenty of practice, and plenty of highly regarded performances.

The group reached a milestone on February 19, when they took the main stage at the famed New York City concert venue. Under the direction of Campus Minister for Liturgical Arts Meyer Chambers, LAG appeared in Carnegie Hall’s “Voices in the Hall” series, in a program titled “The Story of God: A Journey of Faith, Hope and Unity,” which expressed a message of love, forgiveness, and acceptance.

“With deep gratitude to ValLimar Jansen [acclaimed singer, composer, and recording artist], the Liturgy Arts Group and I joined musical artists John Angotti, Meredith Dean Augustin, Cliff Petty, Artistic Director Steve Petrunak, and more than 200 singers and musicians,” said Chambers.

Jansen—a special guest at the concert— asked Chambers to be a guest conductor; he in turn asked that LAG be included in the production. It was the only collegiate group invited to perform.

“Voices in the Hall” was presented in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium on the Perelman Stage, which has seen innumerable historical concerts and events. Since it opened in 1891, Carnegie Hall has set the international standard for musical excellence as the aspirational destination for the world’s finest artists, according to its website, and hosted an honor roll of musicmaking artists representing the finest of every genre.

Chambers was grateful not only that LAG had the opportunity “to participate in this wonderful concert” but for his chance to conduct two pieces, “All of Me: Ode to Sr. Thea,” written by M. Roger Holland ll, and the world premiere of “When I Am Still,” based on the “Londonderry Air,” arranged by William Adams with text by Jansen.

Chambers said he is “beyond grateful to Val and Steve for entrusting me with this awesome responsibility. More importantly the latter piece featured my beloved LAG, with which I have been associated for 20 years.”

Also appreciative of this singular experience were LAG members.

“Performing at Carnegie Hall is a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity, and most of our members never expected to have this experience,” said LAG president Sarah Ryan ’23, noting that four members were featured as instrumentalists, including three violinists and a cellist. “Our singers were fortunate to join a diverse choir of voices from across the country. It was a privilege to meet ValLimar Jansen and John Angotti, who are incredibly talented liturgical musicians, and to share a space with other performers dedicated to ministry and a faith that does justice.”

It is often LAG that provides the soundtrack for the University’s religious and spiritual life. The group serves the BC community by sharing its gift of music at Sunday liturgies and campus events such