The performance, presented by the Durham Symphony Orchestra and the Choral Society of Durham, served as both a remembrance and a reflection on a day many Americans still remember vividly 25 years later.
For Choral Society member Sara Oliver, the tribute carried special meaning. Oliver was a high school senior in San Antonio, Texas, on Sept. 11, 2001. Her father was in New York City on business and had a 9 a.m. meeting scheduled inside the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
As news of the attacks spread, Oliver tried desperately to find out whether her father was safe.
"I called his office and asked where his 9 a.m. meeting was," Oliver said. "They said, 'I don't know what to say. His meeting was in the second tower.'"
With cellphone service disrupted and information scarce, Oliver and her family spent hours fearing the worst. Then her father called.
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"He was five minutes late to his 9 a.m. meeting," Oliver said. "He saw the second plane hit the second tower."
Those five minutes likely saved his life.
Now, a quarter-century later, Oliver sings with the Choral Society of Durham, honoring those who were lost and reflecting on the lasting impact of that day. Former Choral Society member Stephen Harper attended the performance as a supporter and expected an emotional evening.
"I brought plenty of tissues," Harper said.
Harper, who has performed Mozart's Requiem several times, said one section of the piece always stands out to him.
"The part where we anticipate the angels meeting at the gates of heaven," he said.
Harper also remembers the shock of watching the attacks unfold in real time.
"I remember the horror of watching the first building and realizing the plane was coming in to hit the second," Harper said. "It completely takes your breath away."
Mary Parker of the Choral Society of Durham said music can express emotions in a way words often cannot.
"It's the passion. It's the angst. It's the anger. It's the joy," Parker said. "You don't get that from a speaker and a speech."
Parker said the performance was designed not only to honor those who died but also to remind people of the power of unity.
"Seeing what music can do to put people together from different ages, different walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds shows people can come together," Parker said.
As the final notes faded, organizers said the concert served as a reminder that even decades after the attacks, music can help communities remember, heal and find common ground.
ABC11 was a proud supporter of this special commemoration.
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