The Gustavus Choir represent the characteristics that true Gusties hold dear; those of excellence, community, justice, service, and faith. But like any extraordinary choir, The Gustavus Choir defines itself as more than the connotations of its college.

In the realm of musicianship, it means passion, artistry, and grit. One of many Gustavus ensembles that manages to bridge the gap between music and soul.

The 2018 Home Concert was filled with infinitesimal moments of raw, emotional sound, created in perfect balance by a group of humans as diligent as they are talented.

For the Home Concert, The Gustavus Choir performed an impressive seventeen pieces. Despite the amount of repertoire this group brought to the table, the singers did not allow themselves to be spread too thin.

Each piece possessed a compelling, impassioned sound that reflected in the choir’s physicality. Not a single pair of eyes strayed from the guidance of Director Greg Aune.

Every single individual on the risers was invested in the deliverance of each note, and had clearly formed a personal and meaningful relationship with each tune.

The strong sense of commitment to song permeating this performance came from a very honest place. Singers from The Gustavus Choir sound passionate about the repertoire because they are.

When speaking on the piece ‘All My Heart All This Night Rejoices’ by Z. Randall Stroope, Gustie senior and Bass II section leader Michael McKenzie couldn’t help but express this emotional connection.

“After a fantastic choral season filled with focused determination and jaw-dropping artistry culminated in this cathartic performance, at least this was clear: The Gustavus Choir had come home.”

“It offers us as performers the opportunity to be emotionally vulnerable with our audience and without fail it moves people in [a] deep and passionate way,” McKenzie said. “That piece pulls at the hearts strings of the audience and the choir!”

Liza Johnson, a first-year Soprano I, feels a similar connection to ‘All My Heart.’ “I like that one because I just really feel like the choir is so connected during that piece,” she said. “I think of my grandparents during it.”

Indeed, the music created by this group allows for a very visceral experience between the choir and audience. Rather than simply performing for the sake of performing, The Gustavus Choir uses sound to completely immerse themselves and listeners in the implacable magic of music.

Part of what makes this group so outstanding is the phenomenal chemistry within the choir as a whole. “We have a very, very strong choir [this year],” says junior Emma Myhre. “We have a group of very talented first years who have contributed so much to the group, and we sound amazing.”

The fact that this choir is able to draw strength from every member of the group—regardless of labels like upperclassan status—speaks for itself. As an audience member, the dynamic of trust between the singers themselves and Aune was apparent.

“This year the choir sounds particularly strong, [which] was very uplifting to learn,” McKenzie said. “We have put our blood sweat and tears into this music, and we cannot wait to share it with the Gustavus community.”

Another very important not-so-secret to The Gustavus Choir’s success is the leadership of Dr. Greg Aune. Of the 85 years the Gustavus Choir has existed, Dr. Aune is responsible for the phenomenal success of 23.

Despite his extensive career here, Aune refuses to become stagnant, continuing to innovate year after year. “I’m so proud and blessed to be in G Choir and to be under the direction of Dr. A,” Johnson said.

She goes on to reference the piece ‘When Memory Fails’ by Eric Nelson. “That piece is about dementia and Dr. A talked about his father before we started learning it,” Johnson said.

“Even if [someone] hasn’t been affected personally by dementia, we can all connect with Dr. A and his emotion for the piece.” Aune has also established an iconic conducting style that exudes perfect balance.

He is capable of both the quietest subtlety and most thunderous vigor, often within the range of a single piece. It brings an exact response out of his singers without spoon-feeding them, and entrances listeners with a physical representation of the sounds they hear.

Notwithstanding his undeniable legacy of success, Aune finished the concert with heartfelt gratitude for his colleagues, the families of his students, but most importantly his singers.

“We have put our blood, sweat, and tears into this music, and we cannot wait to share it with the Gustavus Community.” — Michael McKenzie

Though this director may come off as an untouchably brilliant enigma, at the end of the day he simply “love[s] working with these kids.”

By the end of the night, two very distinct emotions had filled Christ Chapel; unfettered pride and sheer wonderment. The implacable magic from The Gustavus Choir did, indeed, find its way into Christ Chapel with unsurprising force. After a fantastic choral season filled with focused determination and jaw-dropping artistry culminated in this cathartic performance, at least this was clear: The Gustavus Choir had come home.