KRIS HARRIS
Staff Writer
There are plenty of opportunities to let your voice be heard here at Fredonia with the numerous amounts of clubs dedicated to signing. If choral music is an interest for students, then they should definitely check out Whitachoir.
Whitachoir is student-run choral group that found its start back in 2010 and has been growing ever since, now reaching over 20 members. The club takes its name from Eric Whitacre, a Grammy Award-winning American composer, conductor and speaker. Whitacre is very popular within the world of modern choral music. His pieces are known for having great moments of tension with strong harmonies that create beautiful moments when heard live.
However, students don’t have to be a music major to be a part of the group — just come with a strong passion for music and a strong work ethic.
“We pride ourselves on being open to anyone, regardless of their major, and therefore welcoming a wide array of musical influences and perspectives,” said Lauren Miller, a senior double major in French and public relations.
The name is deceiving though; the group does not only perform pieces composed by Whitacre, but the works of other contemporary composers, too. This last semester, while performing several Whitacre pieces, the group had the opportunity to give a world premiere, the piece being “Song After the Rain” by Emily Joy Sullivan.
The choir only meets every Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m., which can be a time crunch for the group. But members manage to get done what is needed and still put together amazing performances.
David Waterland, a junior vocal performance major, found his way to Whitachoir only last semester, but has been enjoying the opportunity to be in the group ever since becoming the music director.
“Kayleigh Debrine, last [year‘s] music director, couldn’t continue because she is student teaching now, and she knew that I had an interest going into choral conducting. I auditioned [for music director] with two other people. They voted on us, and I was gracious being given the chance to receive [the] position.”
Auditions were this past weekend, but don’t be afraid to stop into one of their rehearsals, as the group welcomes members mid-semester by audition.
This semester, there is much to be expected from the group as they are preparing two concerts over the next few months.
The club’s major Spring concert is going on April 29 at 7 p.m. in Diers Recital Hall. The repertoire for this semester is diverse, including Whitacre’s “Boy and a Girl’ and “In Flander Fields,” a poem on World War I that is performed in a rondeau, a form of song that comes from the Renaissance era in France.
“At the end of the day, the reason why it is so fun and everyone enjoys it so much is that we just realize that it’s just an extracurricular ensemble,” Waterland said. “We get to go back to why we love singing.”