UWF Dr. Grier Williams School of Music Summer Festival Chorus Unites Generations

Andrew Hudson, a returning member, eloquently expressed the value of the fine arts, stating, “Fine arts serve an important need of mankind.” Hudson, along with his father, Eric Hudson, embodies the chorus’s intergenerational appeal. Despite living in different states, Eric travels from Connecticut to Florida each summer to join his son for a week of choral singing. This tradition, which began in 2021, has become a cherished family activity. After their performance this year, three generations of the Hudson family were united, with Andrew’s grandfather watching recordings of the concert. Andrew shared that these recordings “brought him instant joy.”

The chorus also brings together long-time music lovers like William and Stephanie Shaner, a couple who met during a high school band rehearsal 40 years ago. Stephanie credits her husband and Dr. Steenblik for her vocal growth. She no longer feels like “the weak link” in her section. She now spends rehearsals “soaking up the amazing music choices and rich language” in the company of “talented and respected professionals” and “inspiring students.” William, reflecting on their journey, said that music has given him the “greatest friendship of [his] lifetime” with Stephanie and described performing together as “a great blessing.”

The Summer Festival Chorus, despite seeming like a long-standing tradition, was revitalized by Dr. Steenblik in 2017. Michael Nichols, a member since the 1980s, witnessed this transformation. Initially founded by Dr. G. Robert Chancellor and Dr. Grier Williams in 1971 to offer the community high-quality musical performances at a low cost, the chorus’s legacy continues to thrive. Nichols, reflecting on his decades of involvement, noted, “Choral singers are special; you have to be one to appreciate how it feeds your soul.”

“Choral singers are special; you have to be one to appreciate how it feeds your soul.” - Michael Nichols

Dr. Steenblik’s efforts have reintegrated the Summer Festival Chorus into the Northwest Florida community, a development he describes as “one of the great joys of working in Pensacola.” This year, the festival introduced the “UWF Choral Conducting Intensive Workshop,” a week-long program that allows conductors from across the state to hone their skills and conduct pieces within the festival. This initiative represents the chorus’s ongoing evolution and commitment to fostering musical excellence.

Andrew Hudson’s reflections on the importance of fine arts resonate deeply with the chorus’s mission. “They serve an important need of mankind nonetheless: to share joy with people all across the earth. And it is to that which humanity owes great thanks,” he remarked.

For more information on the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, please visit uwf.edu/cfpa. To learn more about the Summer Festival Chorus and the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music, visit uwf.edu/music.