The UT Martin Department of Music held their annual Dessert Evening at Paul Meek Library on Oct. 26, 2024.
This year, the annual event was titled “You Were a Child Once, Too.” The choirs performed songs that are deemed childlike, all while serving three courses of desserts.
The performances were brought to us by the University Singers choir and the New Pacer Singers choir. Songs ranged from Disney princess movies to Broadway musicals.
The first performance of the night was Won’t You Be My Neighbor from the kids television show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, sung by both choirs combined. This song really brought me back to my childhood and it was performed beautifully.
After three more songs, the first dessert was brought out.
The first dessert was a choice of strawberry cheesecake, caramel cheesecake or coconut cake. I opted for the strawberry cheesecake while my friend got the coconut cake. Both were pleasantly sweet.
As we ate our desserts, the choirs started performing their next set of songs.
The songs that stuck out to me during this set were Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton and Can’t Stop Singing from Teen Beach Movie. Coat of Many Colors can be seen as a happy and a sad song. It’s a song that will make you think of a mothers love. Teen Beach Movie is a staple childhood movie and the music from it gained popularity on TikTok over the past few years. It is a song that once its in your head, it’s not leaving.
After five songs in the second set, the next dessert course was served. During this course, each table got a meat, cheese, cracker and fruit tray to share. It was a nice change from sweets, and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
During the third set of songs we heard something I had never heard live before, an Opera performance.
Alayna Copeland and Caroline Oldfather performed the song Dóme épais le jasmin from Lakmé. This was a twist and different from songs that had been performed. It was thoroughly enjoyed by attendees.
After four more songs, including Almost There from The Princess and the Frog, it was time for the third and final dessert course. The choirs served us each a goodie-bag of Oreo truffles. I loved the idea of a goodie-bag because we were able to take them to-go.
While enjoying the Oreo truffles, we listened to a performance of A Quick Break from Cuphead and were read the book “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown.
My favorite part of the evening was the very end when all UT Martin alumni and students were called to stage to sing the Alma Mater. This is an event you do not want to miss out on next year.
