“Standing at the Beam,” composed by Andrea Clearfield, with poetry by Anthony Silvestri, for chorus and string quintet was created to foster a spirit of healing among survivors and the MSU Community due to the criminal sexual misconduct of Larry Nassar, and healing and support for all who have suffered abuse. The work honors the resilience and courage of survivors.

This piece was commissioned by the Edward D. Anderson Choral Scholars Fund in Honor of The University Chorale.

Conducted by: David Rayl

Featuring Soloists: Claire Kaiser, Phoenix Miranda, Paula Duva-Rodriguez, Jacqueline Conlon, Paige Heidrich, Katy Green, Cera Babb, Maria Schoon

STANDING AT THE BEAM
Poem by Charles Anthony Silvestri
© 2019 for Andrea Clearfield

Standing at the beam
All alone
Shaken still    shaken…
broken…
Standing on the edge
Seeking balance
Shifting equilibrium   shifting…
imbalance…
Rising into my routine
Trying not to fall   falling…
Facing all those faces   fearing…
Who’ll never know   hiding…
That not to fall
Requires all
The grit, the work, the strength
Even the strength of all my scars
To get back up again

Standing at the beam
A shadow at my side   shadow…
Weighing me down   inside…
still...

This shadow is not my story
And nothing will take the glory
Of what I have accomplished

But I cannot balance alone
I must dance with the shadows
Until they fade
Until what’s real shines through…

And I see you    I see you…
Standing together   together…
We shake this shadow
And lift each other up

The light of life is ours today
The world will hear what we must say
The light of truth drives shadows away
And reveals a bright new dawn

lifting...
We stand at the beam   shifting...
In strength, together   together…
Where shadows cannot touch us.

From the concert "Standing at the Beam" Saturday, April 2, 2022 
For more information or to order scores visit:
https://www.andreaclearfield.com/works/choral/standing-at-the-beam/
To learn more about survivors of abuse and how you can help visit:
https://centerforsurvivors.msu.edu

Standing at the Beam (premiere audio)

Composer of music for opera, orchestra, chorus, chamber ensemble, soloists and multimedia collaborations