Mississippi State University’s celebration of homecoming week includes the Choral Homecoming Concert. It will take place Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in downtown Starkville.
The performance is the choirs’ first concert of the school year.
Four different choirs will perform on Friday, directed by Gary Packwood, the program administrator and director of choral activities.
Packwood said assistant director of choral activities Gail Kopetz will also conduct, along with student conductors Mitchell Crawford and Joseph Lindamood.
The accompanists for the concert will be Vicky Scites and Rebecca Moore.
Packwood said a lot of work has been put into this concert at all levels.
“Planning a performance like this takes months,” Packwood said. “Selecting the literature is a non-stop effort.”
One performer, John Williams, said the choir practices three times a week in addition to sectional rehearsals. To self-prepare, he listens to the music on repeat.
Williams said the work going into this performance is worth it, however, because of the way it affects the audience. Williams said the best part of performing is “definitely the impact we have on people.”
Williams said he expects the audience to especially enjoy a piece called “Please Stay.”
“The piece that’s probably going to have the biggest impact is called ‘Please Stay,’ by Jake Runestad,” Williams said. “He took tweets that people had put out during a suicide awareness campaign and he used it to write the text of this song, singing to people who are contemplating suicide and pleading them to stay.”
The concert will feature a variety of music styles. Packwood said the audience can expect “a variety of literature from as early as the 15th century to the 20th century, including music from the Renaissance and Baroque Periods.”
Williams said this variety will allow every member of the audience to get exactly the kind of musical experience they are seeking.                 
“There are some pieces that are going to get really emotional and there are also some really fun songs,” Williams said
Packwood said after all the effort the groups have put in, he believes it will be a successful homecoming concert. 
“The hardest thing about these performances is logistics,” Packwood said, referring to the difficulties of moving 200 people on and off the stage for an hour and a half.
The choir still makes it work, however, determined to provide a phenomenal show that touches hearts.
“The best part is actually the rehearsals,” Packwood said. “(These students) have worked to deliver a message of hope and healing.”
Packwood said he believes the groups are prepared for the concert because of a deep understanding of music. 
“They understand the critical role that the arts and particular choral arts play in the progress of humankind,” he said.