Friday, February 14, was the night of the third annual Sweet Sounds: Dessert Cabaret in the cafeteria of Milligan College. The evening featured many Milligan musicians and delectable desserts.
The evening began with sound checks from each group/soloist who was on the itinerary. Professors Charlotte Anderson and Noah Delong assisted everyone in making sure everything was ready for the night of music.
The doors opened to guests at 7:10. The flood of people coming into the dimly lit, festively decorated cafeteria were greeted by tasteful guitar music performed by Milligan’s own Matias Cortez seated on the stage.
The doors closed at 7:35. Everyone in the cafeteria found their respective seats and settled in as senior Gabe Rees welcomed everyone to the event.
It was Gabe’s honor to introduce the first musical group of the evening, one he is also a member of, Heard Mentality. This all-male group kicked off the evening with a cheery a capella rendition of “Java Jive,” a song popular back in the ‘40s. For their second number, Heard Mentality performed “Moondance,” a jazz standard that featured senior Joshua Crawford.
Next up, Averie Blackmore took the stage with her ukelele singing “Perfect Two.” When Blackmore concluded, the duet of Riley Prickett (vocals) and Sarah Beth Hill (trombone) performed a smooth arrangement of “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans.”
The remainder of the first half of the evening consisted of many other musical talents: Dustin Vaughn singing “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”; Jeanette Hartsough singing “Honey Bun” accompanied by scantily clad hula dancer, Collin Hawley; The TBA Girls singing “This Time” and Nat King Cole’s “L.O.V.E.”; Gabe Rees finishing the first half with “Under the Sea.”
The intermission began at 8:09. At this time, guests made their way around the crowded cafeteria to try out the scrumptious desserts the cafeteria staff had made especially for the evening.
The second half of the evening featured the Milligan College Women’s Chorale singing “Till the Stars Fall from the Sky” and “Johnny Angel.” Next up, Laura Mixon gave a passionate performance of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”
Following Laura was Darcie DeLong singing and performing “The Beauty Is” from The Light in the Piazza; Amber Vaughn singing “Amor”; Amber Vaughn and Ben Davenport singing “People Will Say We’re In Love” from Oklahoma.
Rounding out the night’s performances, Heritage performed three numbers — “I Got Rhythm,” “And So It Goes,” and “Your Smiling Face.” After Heritage, Laura Mixon, Darcie DeLong, and Jonathan Mehl performed a humourous arrangement of “I’ve Decided to Marry You.”
The finale of the night was a reprise of “People Will Say We’re In Love” — all of the night’s performers gathered onto the stage and sang along, with the people in the audience joining in as well.