FOR the second year, the Southern Chorale of the University of Southern Mississippi charmed concert-goers in Jamaica with their mesmerising brand of music.

The choir, which is currently on its spring tour, included five stops in Jamaica as part of its season of performances.

On Sunday, the Chapel at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, was the venue for their first Corporate Area stop.

Conductor Dr Gregory Fuller said that following their performance in Jamaica last year, the choir was only too eager to take up the opportunity to sing for a local audience once again. He described the audience as eager and educated.

“It’s always exciting to perform here. Last year we were so warmly welcomed that we simply grabbed the opportunity to be back this year,” he said.

Fuller and his team provided a treat for the ears from the opening to the very last note.

The curtain-raiser was In Memoriam by the Latvian composer Peteris Plakidis. For this, Fuller placed eight soprano voices in the gallery of the chapel, giving levels and depth to the presentation, which featured a delicate blend to produce a pleasing sound.

The Southern Chorale takes the idea of surround sound to a literal level. Just like last year, for some songs, the choir utilised the side aisles of the chapel for their presentation. What resulted was a full-bodied sound with all the parts and voices combining to delight the audience.

The ethereal sounds of the female voices in the presentation of O Magnum Mysterium made this piece by Daniel Elder feel like it belongs in an epic film score. The surround sound effect was also evident on Prayer of St Patrick, which Fulller explained has become their signature piece.

The University Singers would inject their brand and sound into the evening’s recital.

Soloists Danielle Nelson and Kimone Johnson delivered their usual high standard of work on I Will Give Thanks and When the Road Seems Rough, respectively. Unfortunately, they were placed behind a towering floral arrangement which prevented many seated in a certain section of the chapel from having the accompanying visuals for the audio.

The Singers saved the best for last as it was Franklin Halliburton’s Alleluia (Laudes Creaturarum) which would almost bring the house down.

The piece, popularly known as the hymn All Creatures of our God and King, has been arranged by Halliburton with soaring congas which had many heads bobbing to the infectious rhythm with the majestic sound of the choir belying the limited numbers.

The Southern Chorale would return and it would be their final two pieces — the negro spiritual Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit and a medley of the work of 60’s-70’s pop group Fifth Dimension (Up,Up and Away, Stones Soul Picnic and Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In) — which moved the audience.

The latter would bring the evening to a hand-clapping, foot- stomping finale followed by a standing ovation for the visiting choir.