After gathering in the Crowne Centre’s elegant auditorium, thousands of Pensacola Christian College students experienced the Fine Arts Series: Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Conducted by Dr. Cléusia Gonçalves, this magnificent oratorio combined the forces of College choral groups, Chamber Ensemble and Symphonic Choir, and PCCymphony.
Presenting Biblical Truth
By participating in PCC’s Fine Arts Series, both performers and audience members can experience powerful art that glorifies Christ. Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah, a choral masterwork based on the Old Testament, presents a pivotal biblical truth: the Lord is the only true God. In 1 and 2 Kings, God uses Elijah to defeat the prophets of the false god Baal on Mount Carmel, causing the children of Israel to repent and return to God. Graduate assistant Paul Niu (China), who portrayed the prophet Elijah, shared, “I envision Fine Arts as a platform where artistic excellence meets biblical truth, enriching the cultural appreciation of the student body and aligning with our shared faith.”
“The message of this work is one of boldness and courage—a powerful declaration of the one true God, the Lord.”
While singing the parts of King Ahab as well as Obadiah, graduate assistant Estevão Gouveia Gonçalves (Brazil) appreciated how Elijah encourages Christians to have faith. “The name ‘Elijah’ means ‘The Lord is my God,’” Estevão shared. “His story serves as a powerful reminder of how we, as Christians, are called to respond in times of adversity: by standing firm in our faith and confronting evil. The message of this work is one of boldness and courage—a powerful declaration of the one true God, the Lord.”
As the audience responded to the music, they were also blessed by its biblical message. Sammy Blank (So., PA) was reminded of God’s great, enduring faithfulness when He didn’t abandon Elijah during the confrontation with the false prophets of Baal. After attending the oratorio, Sammy shared, “My takeaway is that God really will always be there for us no matter what, no matter how scary or unfortunate our situation is.”
A Unified Performance
This Fine Arts Series gave 150 musicians in the Department of Performing Arts an occasion to collaborate as they presented a masterpiece. Both instrumentalists and singers frequently rehearsed, their sessions enhanced by a shared enthusiasm for music. When months of practicing came to fruition, they enjoyed an elevated, on-stage experience.
Conductor Dr. Gonçalves prepared the musicians to perform as a group. She guided the orchestra and choir as they presented the oratorio, ensuring a cohesive sound. To master the oratorio’s 16 choruses, the choir was attentive to many details. “Each chorus required so much attention to tuning and correct vocal technique,” Dr. Gonçalves explained. “Much of the effort required from the singer is to sing all the right notes and rhythms to articulate the text correctly and dramatically and to keep the energy high through the entire performance.”
“What I enjoyed most was getting to have an ‘inside look’ at Mendelssohn’s music . . .”
Freshman Beth Berry (OK) sang alto in Symphonic Choir. While sitting under Dr. Gonçalves, she observed how choral works connect separate parts to create a whole. “What I enjoyed most was getting to have an ‘inside look’ at Mendelssohn’s music rather than just observing,” Beth shared. “It was neat to hear everything coming together from the first practices to the last rehearsal.”
The musicians’ passion and practice resulted in a unified, powerful performance. On the night of Elijah, Ashlee Halstead (Jr., VA) became fully immersed in the music as she led the second violin section in PCCymphony. “The atmosphere on stage was great—the orchestra and choir were very cohesive,” Ashlee recalled. “You could really feel everyone leaning into the emotion and the story, and that made the whole experience feel so powerful.”
A Night to Remember
For many students, Mendelssohn’s Elijah was the first oratorio they had ever experienced—whether as an audience member or as a participant. The power of the choir and orchestra combined with Elijah’s story created a memorable conclusion to the spring semester.
Alexa Blomberg (Jr., MI) anticipated Elijah because she had never attended an oratorio before. Her favorite parts were the powerful and emotional solos, and she went away enriched by the experience. “This was my first time hearing an [oratorio] in person, and seeing the story of Elijah live was exciting,” Alexa shared. “My classmates felt the same way—they got to experience a whole different singing style for PCC and Fine Arts.”
For Estevão Gouveia Gonçalves, collaborating with 150 singers and instrumentalists was a new endeavor. As he now has graduated with his master’s degree in music, he appreciated making memories to carry beyond college. He said of Elijah, “This was the largest work in which I’ve had a solo so far in my career, making it a personally significant and deeply rewarding opportunity. Performing this concert as probably my final appearance as a PCC student made the moment even more special—a meaningful and grand way to conclude my college journey.”
“I love the Fine Arts Series because I believe it exposes me and my classmates to so many classic forms of art that we would not know of or be familiar with otherwise.”
Like Alexa, Isabel Miner (So., FL) appreciates Fine Arts Series because they are refined events to enjoy with friends while also broadening her cultural appreciation. She observed, “I love the Fine Arts Series because I believe it exposes me and my classmates to so many classic forms of art that we would not know of or be familiar with otherwise. It was wonderfully executed and incredibly moving.”
PCC’s Fine Arts Series provide opportunities for students to experience a wide range of productions that glorify God. An outstanding biblical oratorio, Elijah was a fitting finale to the spring semester. Both participants and attendees were enriched by the moving choral masterwork while also being uplifted spiritually. After giving a heartfelt performance as the prophet Elijah, Paul Niu looked toward the future and wished for his peers to be encouraged by the production’s message for years to come. Paul shared, “Through this performance, I hope my peers learn to listen for God’s still, small voice amidst life’s challenges. No matter the circumstances, He is present, guiding us toward His best for our lives.”