91传媒 Chamber Choir Presents 鈥淲e Are One鈥� Spring Concert Featuring Student Conductors
LA GRANDE, Ore. 鈥� Five 91传媒 students will step onto the podium later this month as the 91传媒 Chamber Choir presents its spring concert, 鈥淲e Are One,鈥� at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 28 in McKenzie Theatre.
Admission is free, and donations will be accepted at the door.
The concert follows the choir鈥檚 February performance, 鈥淭rue Colors,鈥� and highlights the work of student conductors Jillian Newman, Jakob Graffunder, McKenzie Jonas, Hannah Brown, and Laylah Lucas. Each student is enrolled in 91传媒鈥檚 Choral Methods course and has spent the past eight weeks rehearsing and preparing the ensemble for performance.
For many of the students, the experience has provided a first opportunity to lead an ensemble in a live rehearsal setting.
鈥淭he first time we stood in front of the choir was terrifying,鈥� Lucas said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 been really fun seeing all of us get more comfortable and realize that we鈥檙e helping create the music, not just directing it.鈥�
Many of the student conductors are preparing for careers in education, and the course gives them practical experience leading rehearsals, communicating musical ideas, and working with singers in real time.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible opportunity to jump right in,鈥� Jonas said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 helped me become more comfortable leading students and developing teaching strategies.鈥�
Graffunder said the experience has strengthened both his teaching skills and musicianship.
鈥淭his class gave me a foundation for teaching and managing an ensemble,鈥� Graffunder said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 helped me become a more well-rounded musician and better prepared for what comes next.鈥�
Brown said the course also emphasized the importance of connection and collaboration within an ensemble.
鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot about myself, new ways to teach, and how important it is to build connections with students,鈥� Brown said.
Newman, who plans to become a music teacher, said conducting introduced a new kind of leadership experience.
鈥淚鈥檝e had to learn different teaching approaches and how to connect with the ensemble,鈥� Newman said.
The concert repertoire explores themes of unity, connection, and shared human experience through music from a variety of traditions and cultures. Selections include 鈥淪isi Ni Moja鈥� by Jacob Narverud, 鈥淎n Earth Song鈥� by Marques Garrett, 鈥淲ade in the Water,鈥� arranged by Kevin Phillip Johnson, and 鈥淚ndlu yeGagu,鈥� arranged by Sizwe Mondlane.
Professor of Music Peter Wordelman said the course allows students to develop conducting skills through direct experience with an ensemble.
鈥淵ou can study technique, but conducting only improves when you鈥檙e working with real people,鈥� Wordelman said. 鈥淟earning how to lead an ensemble happens in the moment.鈥�
The concert program includes:
Full Choir
- 鈥淪isi Ni Moja鈥� by Jacob Narverud 鈥� conducted by Jillian Newman
- 鈥淗ela Rotan鈥� (Indonesian Folksong), arranged by Ken Stevens 鈥� conducted by Jakob Graffunder
- 鈥淎n Earth Song鈥� by Marques Garrett 鈥� conducted by McKenzie Jonas
Soprano/Alto Choir
- 鈥淪wifter Than Flame鈥� by Elaine Hagenberg 鈥� conducted by Hannah Brown
- 鈥淲ade in the Water,鈥� arranged by Kevin Phillip Johnson 鈥� conducted by Jakob Graffunder
Tenor/Bass Choir
- 鈥淐onnected鈥� by Brian Tate 鈥� conducted by Laylah Lucas
- 鈥淭he River鈥� by Susan La Barr 鈥� conducted by Jillian Newman
Full Choir
- 鈥淜ama Muta鈥� by Aaron Gage 鈥� conducted by Hannah Brown
- 鈥淚ndlu yeGagu鈥� (South Africa), arranged by Sizwe Mondlane 鈥� conducted by McKenzie Jonas
- 鈥淟ovely Chance鈥� by Jacob Narverud 鈥� conducted by Laylah Lucas
For more information about 91传媒鈥檚 music program and upcoming performances, visit eou.edu.
