Five collegiate women’s choirs performing at the College of Saint Benedict

The College of Saint Benedict is hosting five collegiate women’s choirs from around the state in a concert titled, “Still I Rise.”

The concert, which includes CSB, the College of St. Scholastica, University of Northwestern – St. Paul, St. Cloud State University and the University of St. Thomas, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, in Escher Auditorium, Benedicta Arts Center, CSB.

The concert is free and open to the public, but free-will donations will be accepted for Anna Marie’s Alliance in St. Cloud.

The choirs will be performing songs of trouble, hope and empowerment, and will highlight the link between the arts, education and social judgement.

Anna Marie’s Alliance provides women and their children who are experiencing domestic abuse with a safe environment in order to eliminate and escape this. This spring, Anna Marie’s Alliance staff members spoke to the choirs about their services, and the students heard stories from women who have used the resources.

CSB Women’s Choir, under the direction of Susan Cogdill, assistant professor of music education at CSB and SJU, have been working diligently to host this event. Olivia Irwin, a CSB nursing major and president of the women’s choir, is eager to have the other college choirs join together in singing.

“Acts of domestic violence are more common in our society than some people think. By raising awareness we can decrease domestic violence and raise money for Anna Marie’s Alliance, so they can help the victims heal from their experiences,” Irwin said.

The event is sponsored by CSB/SJU Music Department, CSB Senate, CSB Institute for Women’s Leadership, CSB Office of President, SJU Senate, CSB Campus Ministry, CSB Residential Life and Housing and CSB/SJU consent-equality-respect-talking-safety team. 

For more information on Anna Marie’s Alliance in St. Cloud visit their website: http://www.annamaries.org/