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   from the issue of September 13, 2007

     
 
  Graduate assistantship renews East Campus Choir

Choir Revival

 BY TROY FEDDERSON, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

The sounds of a forgotten campus tradition are stirring in the corridors of Hardin Hall.

 
WAY BACK - James Wilson, UNL graduate student and director of the East Campus Choir, tells choir members to sing loud...
 WAY BACK - James Wilson, UNL graduate student and director of the East Campus Choir, tells choir members to sing loud enough to be heard at the back of the Hardin Hall auditorium. Photo by Troy Fedderson/University Communications.

Gathering every Thursday evening since Aug. 30 in the Hardin Hall Auditorium, a growing group of students, university employees and community members are a new beginning for the East Campus Choir. The choir - previously known as the Ag Campus Choir, which stopped performing in the 1950s - is under the direction of James Wilson, a graduate student of choral conducting in the School of Music.

"We are staying true to the Ag Campus Choir and opening the group up to anyone interested - students, faculty, staff and members of the community," said Wilson. "We have a core in place and are starting to find our way."

The choir revival started from doctoral research gathered by Rebecca Gruber, a graduate student in the School of Music.

"Rebecca is working on a terminal doctoral dissertation and found information about the Ag Campus Choir," said Peter Eklund, associate professor of music. "We found that the choir had a rich legacy. It was definitely something we wanted to revive."

IN TUNE - Ken Hubbard (middle), professor of meteorology, sings with Thad Miller (left) and Matt Vaughn during East Campus Choir...
 
IN TUNE - Ken Hubbard (middle), professor of meteorology, sings with Thad Miller (left) and Matt Vaughn during East Campus Choir practice on Sept. 6. Photo by Troy Fedderson/University Communications.

 

A graduate teaching assistantship was created with the goal of reforming the choir. Wilson - who has studied voice performance and choral direction at the Hart School in Hartford, Conn., Boston University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro - was selected through a competitive application process to guide the choir.

"I started my doctoral program when I was at UNC-Greensboro, and I did a lot of work helping build a choir in an Episcopal church there," Wilson said. "I helped establish a recital series and an early music choir in that church. I made sure I highlighted those experiences when I interviewed here."

Wilson's dedication to the new choir - and to music in general - is easy to discern.

"Our director, James Wilson, has a good flair for music," said Rachael Cassidy, a Lied Center employee who first joined the choir on Sept. 6. "He has an obvious love for music. And, I think he is the right person to ignite the flame of this old choir."

Participating in the choir can help music students earn credit toward graduation. However, it is open to anyone interested - even those with no singing experience.

"I'm willing to work with anyone," said Wilson.

Despite a delay caused by locked doors (remedied by an unnamed Hardin Hall professor), the choir drew nine members to the first practice on Aug. 30. Through word of mouth and E-News, that total grew to 17 by the second practice on Sept. 6.

The choir is primarily students, however a few community members and two university employees - Cassidy and Ken Hubbard, professor of meteorology - have joined.

Organizers hope to continue to grow the numbers, primarily those of faculty, staff and community members.

"This choir is important for building bridges," said Eklund. "Getting the choir started has been a collaborative effort between East and City campuses. It is also a critical outreach project with the community.

"We want to see everyone involved - from on and off campus."

Eklund is serving as the supervising professor for the choir. Others who have helped get the choir started include: John Owens, vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Jack Oliva, dean of Fine and Performing Arts; John Richmond, chair of the School of Music; and Steve Waller, dean of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

East Campus Choir practices, 7 to 9 p.m. every Thursday in the Hardin Hall Auditorium, are open to the public. For more information about the choir, contact Wilson at jameswils@gmail.com or 472-4470.


GO TO: ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 13

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