A Magical Moment at Milligan

By Amanda Florian   

October 27, 2014

 

Milligan students enchanted audiences with song selections from Walt Disney films last Saturday when half a dozen Milligan ensembles came together and filled Seeger Chapel with the magic of Disney. The musicians performed songs like Snow White’s “Someday My Prince Will Come” and Frozen’s “Vuelie,” giving audiences a blend of Disney classics.

 

It took a team to produce this Disney magic. Noah DeLong, Kellie Brown, Charlotte Anderson and Anne Elliott came together to coach freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors for the event.

 

The performers received a standing ovation.

 

Anna Jackson, a sophomore audience member, said that these songs took her on a breathtaking journey and sounded like she was “listening to the actual Disney soundtrack, in the most real way possible”.

 

 “I grew up on these songs. Each song that was played was another memory of my childhood,” Jackson said. 

 

Jackson’s favorite selections were “Vuelie” from Frozen and “Be Our Guest” from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

 

The hour long concert also featured hits from Brave, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, with a special arrangement of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the all-male acappella group, Heard Mentality.

 

The performers were made up of a wide variety of students, including those studying Theatre, Nursing, Music, Math, English and more.

 

One performer said that students from the community had the chance to participate in Milligan’s orchestra, as well.

 

Freshman Hannah Shipp performed with Women’s Chorale and Concert Choir during the event and said that she hopes the Disney Concert will become an annual tradition for Milligan.

 

“There are so many great songs to choose from,” Shipp said. “With all of the Disney movies out there, we could definitely do this every year.”

 

For more than ten years now, Milligan’s music department has hosted an annual Homecoming concert. However, this was the first year that the theme of Disney was used.

 

Shipp said that on the first day of class, Professor Elliott told Women’s Chorale about the new theme and the ensemble began working on Cinderella’s “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” the same day.

 

Watching the reactions from the kids was one of the most rewarding parts of the event for Shipp.

 

“I was watching kids and their grins started to appear on their faces,” she said. “That just made the whole concert.”