SUNY Oswego instructor turns Frost poems into musical compositions
The State Singers will perform original compositions made by their instructor, Caryn Patterson, converted from Robert Frost poems. Photo by: Connor LaLone
OSWEGO, NY — SUNY Oswego’s State Singers ensemble will debut a unique set of pieces later this spring, converted from poetry to song by instructor Caryn Patterson.
“I think it’s really cool that we’re taking compositions that have never been sung before”
Mackenzie Shields
“So it’s three short little Robert Frost poems that I set to short little pieces of music and we’re going to perform all three of them, one right after the other,” Patterson said.
The group will have their songs professionally recorded with help from fellow Oswego students.
“We’ll be working, collaborating with the advanced recording class,” Patterson said. “And so they will be the ones that are doing the recording.”
The State Singers group will record the compositions in Tyler Hall in April. An in-person debut will follow in early May.
“May 1 will be our official world premiere performance. Super exciting,” Patterson said.
Mackenzie Shields, a member of State Singers, is excited for the opportunity to perform the Pulitzer-winning poetry as song for the first time.
“I think it’s really cool that we’re taking compositions that have never been sung before,” Shields said, “They’ve never been performed, they’ve never been recorded.”
Along with the May 1 performance, State Singers will perform the compositions on May 5.