Marist Singers Thrive with Return of Choral Director after Victory Against Cancer
December 10, 2024 鈥� The Marist Singers are thriving this semester with the return of Sarah Williams, the Director of Choral Activities, who overcame breast cancer this past summer.
Williams has been with the department since 2006, and assumed her director role in 2007. Originally an opera singer, Williams fell in love with teaching technique during her time as a master鈥檚 student. She is now the conductor of Singers, the auditioned Chamber Choir, and works with students in class and one-on-one settings.
鈥淚 get so jazzed teaching people to make pretty sounds,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淲atching students grow through a craft is so exciting.鈥�
Sarah Williams with Chamber Choir at the 2023 Graduate and Adult Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/蜜月直播.
In September 2023, Williams was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really important to get your mammogram,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚t was a general, every-year mammogram. I had a spot, and they said let鈥檚 biopsy that.鈥�
A week after Williams鈥� diagnosis, she started her first round of chemotherapy. 鈥淭here was no thinking about getting treatment,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou just go.鈥�
Williams continued teaching through the fall 2023 semester while undergoing initial treatment, with overwhelming support from students and staff. Before the first concert since her diagnosis, students surprised Williams with a 鈥淧ink Out,鈥� with custom-made pink Williams鈥� Warriors shirts.
鈥淒uring chemo, when I was very sick, I was struggling,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hen I thought, well, they put on all those pink shirts for you! You can鈥檛 let them down!鈥�
Williams took medical leave for the spring semester, undergoing two rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Music provided emotional and mental healing, especially through breathing exercises.
鈥淏eing able to control my breath gave me control in a situation where I didn鈥檛 have control,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淭hrough my cancer journey, that was huge.鈥�
On July 26, 2024, she was officially declared cancer-free.
鈥淚 rang that end-of-treatment bell so loud. It was not just for me. It鈥檚 for the whole tribe, every nurse that helped me, every student, every person from my church who made my family and I dinner. Everyone,鈥� Williams said.
While Williams was on medical leave, the music department faculty stepped in to support her and the choral department. Christopher Wynkoop, adjunct professor of Music, assumed Sarah鈥檚 responsibility as conductor of Singers and Chamber Choir.
鈥淚 knew Singers was going to be fine,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚f I didn鈥檛 have that team [in the music department] it would鈥檝e been really tough. When I saw Chris conducting, I was like, he鈥檚 doing the thing! He鈥檚 doing it!鈥�
Sarah came to every concert during her leave.
鈥淓veryone stepped up,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he ship still sailed.鈥�
Sarah Williams conducting the fall 2024 Family Weekend Concert. Photo courtesy of Abby Castonguay '25.
Under her leadership, Singers performs five concerts per year, three of which take place during the fall semester. The Family Weekend Concert in September was Williams鈥� first concert after her leave.
鈥淭he first day back with the choir was magical,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淭wo weeks beforehand I thought, what if I don鈥檛 remember how to do this? What if I don鈥檛 have the stamina anymore? What if they don鈥檛 like me anymore? But once we started, I remembered that I love this, and I know how to do this.鈥�
Olivia Artuso 鈥�26, Student President of Singers, said that it鈥檚 a privilege to learn from Williams.
鈥淪arah has a contagious energy that is beautifully complemented by her love and skill towards the craft,鈥� said Olivia. 鈥淪he does everything in her power to remind her students what they鈥檙e capable of.鈥�
In November, Singers put on Night on Broadway, the annual benefit concert for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The show is a theatrical concert that features performances from all Singers, including Upper Treble, Low Voices, and First Year Treble, as well as auditioned small groups and solo acts.
This year, the concert raised over $7,200 for donation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important that our students know that this concert does good for a greater community,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淎nd who doesn鈥檛 like Broadway? I love the energy of it.鈥�
The Marist Singers performing Defying Gravity from 鈥淲icked鈥� at Night on Broadway, featuring Sirina Garba '28. Photo courtesy of Sarah Williams, Music Department.
The final concert of the fall semester was Lessons and Carols, a ecumenical service that was held at the Poughkeepsie Bardavon on December 7. The service is one of the oldest traditions on campus, stretching back over 40 years. Originally taking place at the campus Chapel, the service has grown immensely since its inception.
鈥淲e sing for everyone. There鈥檚 a lot of people who, whether they believe or not, need to know that someone is thinking of them and let us carry their troubles for an hour,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the point of Lessons and Carols.鈥�
The choral program continues to evolve. In the spring semester, Select Treble Choir, led by Wynkoop, will be restarted after a decade-long hiatus. Williams is also looking forward to traveling with Singers again.
Williams鈥� last words for those who are still battling cancer: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to ring the bell. Don鈥檛 do it alone. Ask for help. See a need, fill a need.鈥�
蜜月直播 Marist Music
Marist offers a Music minor with paths in vocal studies or instrumental studies. First-year music students are eligible to audition for the Fusco Music Scholarship to support their music education.
Singers is open to all students and is one of the largest clubs on campus, with over 100 members. Learn more about Marist Music here.
