There is a sense of urgency in Dr. James Henderson’s concert choir class. With less than three weeks before its first concert, the class stands tall while warming up, humming different scales and pitches. Breathing must be consistent while properly opening their mouths to produce the best sound possible.
Tyler Junior College music department vocal ensembles are preparing for the fall semester concert later this month.
“They’re really excited to sing,” Henderson, director of Choral Music at TJC said. “Everything is coming into place right where it needs to be.”
The chamber singers are a highly competitive ensemble that performs Renaissance period music (16th-17th Century). Students must audition for the group. There are 16 singers this year.
Madrigal style is a type of music that is sung a capella with several interconnecting voices at once, while following strict poetic form. This is the style chamber singers follow.
An open-minded, responsible and dependable person with a good attitude is what makes a dedicated music student at TJC. While on the stage, the performers are able to connect with their audiences and convey emotions to them done through singing. They are able to tell a story from the pitch of their voice or tone.
Maya Foster, president for the Vocal Ensembles, is in charge of making sure all of the measurements are correct for their concert tuxedos and dresses for performances, as well as planning extracurricular activities for the vocal group. This is the first year Henderson decided to have elected officers, with a president and two social secretaries.
“The students are progressing well, and we will be working on [our] singing before the concert,” Henderson said.
The TJC Vocal Ensemble group will perform selected songs for their concert on Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Wise Auditorium located on TJC campus. Admission is free. Wednesday Dec. 4 at 12:05 p.m. the concert choir and chamber singers will perform a Christmas performance located at Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler with free admission.
