STERLING — Get ready for a night of powerhouse vocals, unforgettable melodies, and music that moves more than just your feet. At 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, Sterling College’s Concert Choir and Highland Singers take the stage at Culbertson Auditorium for their Spring Pops Concert entitled Stand Up: Songs of Change and Hope – a high-energy, heart-stirring celebration of music’s power to unite, uplift, and ignite.

Blending Broadway hits, pop anthems, and timeless classics, this concert isn’t just a showcase of talent, it’s a call to reflect, remember, and rise. The evening promises a bold and moving journey through the songs that have shaped generations and inspired change around the world.

Sean Foster is finishing his first year at Sterling College as the Concert Choir Director. Marisa Callan is the director of the Highland Singers. “It has been an absolute joy to collaborate with Sean Foster this year,” says Callan. “From the very beginning, our goal was to offer both our students and audience a wide range of musical experiences – programming that would challenge, inspire, and uplift.”

Following a winter concert centered on the global language of folk music, the upcoming concert shifts its spotlight to the songs that have echoed through radios, theaters, and screens during pivotal moments in history. “Stand Up” isn’t just a title – it’s a theme that threads through every note and lyric of the evening.

Audiences can look forward to powerful selections performed by the Sterling College Concert Choir, including: “What About Us” by Pink – an anthem of resilience and demand for truth; “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel, a timeless reflection on the human condition; and “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from Hairspray – an exuberant celebration of progress and change.

Meanwhile, the Highland Singers will bring emotional depth to the stage with standout performances, including the show-stopping “Stand Up” from the film Harriet, which has quickly become a favorite of the ensemble. “It’s a song that speaks to courage and perseverance,” Callan shares. “It’s a message that resonates with our students, and we believe it will stay with our audience long after the concert ends.”

One of the most poignant moments of the evening will feature a selection from Newsies—a musical deeply personal to several current seniors who performed in the show as freshmen. It’s a reminder of how music, like memory, marks our journey and celebrates our growth.

With a program that spans eras, styles, and emotions, “Stand Up: Songs of Change and Hope” is more than a concert – it’s a celebration of the ways music connects us, challenges us, and calls us to be better. Admission is free and open to the public.