Love was in the air Tuesday when the Baker University forum “Love in Any Language” was presented in McKibbin Recital Hall.
The forum included performances by faculty and students singing songs and reading poetry about the topic of love in French, German, Italian and English.
The performers included Associate Professor of Music Susan Buehler, student soloists and the Baker University Forensics Team Speech Choir presenting various aspects of love, including certain customs of love and marriage existing in the world.
“It’s kind of a fun look at love, and I scheduled this predominantly, of course, in February because of Valentine’s Day,” Buehler said. “The university forum falls on the third Tuesday of each month … so as it falls on the calendar, Valentine’s Day is already gone, but it’s still in the month, so it works.”
Buehler said forums celebrating love in February have been scheduled the last couple of years.
“There’s a huge amount of musical literature out there that focuses on love,” she said. “There’s a lot of stuff being written – poetry and music – on the subject of love. There’s so much more literature that can be presented to the public, and it’s just kind of a fun way to present some more information.”
Senior Haley Gilbert performed with the speech choir and said she enjoyed the experience.
“I’m always flattered when people ask us to perform with them or for them because I feel like we’re wanted on campus, and people must value us as a program,” Gilbert said. “It’s a good opportunity to learn and gain experience working with different organizations and groups and departments on campus.”
Senior Will Weyhrauch said one of his two solos was challenging, but he enjoyed being able to perform.
“It was an honor to be asked to do it because it’s not an extracurricular; it’s whoever Dr. Buehler wanted,” he said.
Weyhrauch said the topic of the forum was relevant to all Baker students.
“Love is one of the most written about pieces of literature,” he said, “so I think it’s a very interesting presentation.”
