A sneak peak at Masterworks Choral Ensemble’s ‘The Searching Soul’
Originally published on the JOLT News on April 10, 2026
Whenever I think of the idea of “soul searching,” I think about the healing work that goes into it — deep contemplation, reading, going to therapy, etc. All of those practices are wonderful, but what if soul searching could be fulfilled in finding rest and respite in music?
This is the “radical” idea that Masterworks Choral Ensemble (MCE) will bring to our ever busy society at their April 18 concert at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Make a plan and get your ticket before the show sells out! Click here to learn more.
I cherish every opportunity I get to speak with MCE Artistic Director and Conductor Ben Luedcke because his mind is a library filled with poetry, artistic insight and deeper connections. Our conversation about “The Searching Soul” dove deep into this.
I invite you to step outside, sit in a comfy outdoor chair, and breathe in the fresh air as you read this sneak peak of “The Searching Soul.”
'The Searching Soul'
The conversation surrounding this concert was deep from the beginning with Luedcke describing how “the idea of the soul often has an exclusively spiritual connotation, but we should think of this concert as humankind’s search for meaning.”
The heart of this concert is really open-ended, allowing both performers and audience members to interpret the lyrics of each piece in whatever way speaks to them. Combining spirituality and philosophy, this search will take place in various program pieces that:
Find meaning and beauty in nature.
Discover and celebrate love, whether that be romantic or platonic.
Engage in conversation about our very existence, where we are going, and what happens next.
Naturally, members of MCE are drawn to different pieces throughout the rehearsal process. One of the ensemble’s favorites is “Up to the Mountain” by Americana singer-songwriter Patty Griffin, written in the style of a spiritual with the text adapted from a Martin Luther King Jr speech.
This piece reiterates, “I’ve been working hard all my life, I’m having a hard time keeping going, where can I look for motivation to get up another day?”
According to Luedcke, the answer to the posed question comes in the line, "Some days I look down, afraid I will fall, and though the sun shines, I see nothing at all, but then I hear your sweet voice come and go, telling me softly you love me so.”
Whose sweet voice do you hear in those moments? It could be God’s, your romantic partner’s, your children’s, your parents — that is the beauty of this concert, meaning is in the hearts of the beholder.
During our conversation, another theme became evident. The program represents various eras and regions, and celebrates diversity in the approach each society takes to soul searching, tapping into something deeper and crucial to this moment in our sociopolitical landscape:
Anne Frank once wrote, “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” I would take it further; I believe that people are really similar at heart. Our approaches may look different, but we all want the same things: love, hope, joy, peace, for our loved ones and our societies.
I must implore you to keep buying tickets to shows and create a regular presence in the audience because we need to keep connecting to our collective humanity and discovering our commonality in our laughter, sighs and rounds of applause.
I know a great place to start — get your tickets to MCE’s “The Searching Soul” before the concert sells out! Click here to learn more.
MCE needs your support
During the second half of the concert, a large orchestra with about 30 musicians will be joining MCE on stage.
MCE plans to pay all orchestral musicians a fair wage, and I cannot over emphasize what good character this shows. Right now, MCE has a fundraising campaign of $10,000 to help make that happen. All funds go directly into making this concert extraordinary and paying these amazing musicians. Click here to learn more.
While you are on the MCE website, I encourage you to buy a ticket to the season finale concert, “80’s Dance Party.” The title speaks for itself and the concert is bound to be a blast!
The cherry on top is that MCE will be announcing its next season. I got to learn about the next season off the record, and all I can say is wow, it is going to be incredible! Trust me, you do not want to miss this announcement.
The concert will be held at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE in downtown Olympia.