Hobart and William Smith Colleges

2 April 2026 “Prayer for Peace” Community Chorus Concert Explores Themes of Peace and Consolation By Mary Stone

Featuring guest musicians from Eastman, the spring performance offers a contemplative musical experience April 29.

The Hobart and William Smith Community Chorus will present a spring concert, “A Prayer for Peace” at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29 at The Presbyterian Church in Geneva. The performance is free and open to the public.

Under the direction of Liyao Yu, the program brings together works that explore themes of peace, rest and consolation. The concert is anchored by “Requiem,” a choral work for soprano, choir and orchestra by English composer John Rutter in honor of his late father. The piece is as a deeply human meditation on peace, rest and comfort. 

Yu, a conductor and mezzo-soprano who is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting at the Eastman School of Music, approaches the repertoire with an emphasis on collaboration and shared musical expression. That sensibility shapes the program’s arc, pairing intimate choral works with the fuller textures of a chamber ensemble.

The concert opens with the Prélude from “Suite pour Orgue” by French composer and organist Maurice Duruflé, whose rich harmonies establish a contemplative tone. The program continues with “O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem” by English composer Herbert Howells, a choral work that serves as both prayer and reflection.

The evening concludes with Rutter’s “Requiem,” performed with chamber orchestra, highlighting the work’s luminous textures and sense of quiet reassurance.

The performance will feature soprano Victoria Lang, along with guest musicians from the Eastman School of Music and Hobart and William Smith.

The Hobart and William Smith Community Chorus is a 40-voice ensemble composed of students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the surrounding community. Reflecting Yu’s commitment to building musical communities, the chorus brings together experienced singers and newcomers alike, creating performances grounded in both technical precision and collective expression.

With “A Prayer for Peace,” the ensemble offers a program that invites listeners to reflect, using music to explore the enduring human search for rest, consolation and hope.