In a Thanksgiving concert that combined upbeat pop hits, holiday classics, original spoken word pieces and a traditional Yiddish folk song, the Pierce College choir worked to spread gratitude on Saturday, Nov. 23, using the universal language of music.
“We wanted to have the vibe of a Thanksgiving feast and of coming together,” Choir Director Garineh Avakian said. “It’s all about having hope, giving thanks, finding peace and promoting unity.”
The concert brought together about 50 performers and more than 200 audience members in Building 600. The choir’s members ranged from first-semester singers to seasoned musicians to non-traditional and returning students.
Music major Harmony Arevalo performed in the Pierce choir for her first semester this fall. She said being a part of the performance was a “lovely opportunity.”
“I have a lot of family in the audience who I haven’t seen for awhile, so it means a lot to me,” Arevalo said. “I love how [Avakian] made it feel very homey and inclusive.”
During the concert, music major Jessica Iovino sang the solo piece “The Trouble with Love Is,” by Kelly Clarkson. But it was another song in the concert — the ensemble piece “How do you Tell a Veteran Thank You?,” by Karl Hitzemann — that she said was especially meaningful to her.
“We have a song for our veterans, and my father-in-law is a Vietnam veteran,” Iovino said. “It’s very special to me to be able to celebrate that with a nice song with my peers.”
Iovino has been a musician for about 21 years. She came to Pierce to further her technical education, and said that being a part of the music department “changed my life.”
“I came here strictly because I wanted to be in the recording industry, but now I’ve realized I’m into teaching choral music,” Iovino said. “I’m going to transfer to CSUN and pursue teaching. I’ve seen a side of music that I was never interested in before, and now I really am.”
In addition to feel-good songs including “We are the World,” by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and “Thank you for the Music,” by ABBA, the concert also featured three original poems written by choir students.
Music major Naiya Donovan performed the spoken word piece she wrote, entitled “Melodies and Memories.”
“I don’t really write poetry that often, but when I do, it’s usually about music,” Donovan said. “I wrote a poem about my gratitude for music. It flowed out as I started to write.”
Avakian said part of what made the Thanksgiving concert unique was that it included a potluck and a food donation drive. Tables lined the back and sides of Building 600, covered in steaming meatballs, fresh-baked muffins and dozens of other homemade and store-bought dishes.
“We didn’t want it to feel like just a concert,” Avakian said. “It’s interactive and welcoming. The moment people walk in, it’s kind of like home.”
