UT choral department welcomes high school choirs

The University of Tennessee choral department continued its 2017-2018 season Feb. 13 showcasing talents to attract prospective students. Four university choirs and three local high school choirs took the Cox Auditorium stage in Alumni Memorial Building for the Choral Arts concert.

“The thought process behind this is to have different high schools from different areas of East Tennessee come together,” Dr. Angela Batey, director of choral activities, said.

Through a wide-range of pieces from various centuries, the UT choirs demonstrated collegiate musicianship. UT Concert Choir and Men’s Chorale performed more traditional choral works under the direction of Dr. Jaclyn Johnson.

L&N Stem Academy, Powell High School and Gibbs High School choirs demonstrated their skills in preparation for a competition later this month.

UT invites anyone, regardless of major, to sing. Some individuals perform in multiple choirs.

“I am also in the Concert Choir so for that just remembering all the pieces and the vowels and mouth shapes you have to make is the hardest part. While for UT Singers combining the music with choreography and timing is challenging,” Katey Hawkins, lead female in UT Singers, said.

UT Singers performed an electric mashup of “Rumor Has It” by Adele and “Natalie” by Bruno Mars. The set became an audience favorite.

The Choral Arts concert also featured the debuts of the first-year choral conducting graduate students.

During the UT Chamber Singers performance, Hannah Berkley, Andrea Markowitz, Jordan Sera, Brett Hopper and David Buchanan took the audience through musical history with pieces ranging from 1539-1978 in their conducting debuts.

Visit http://www.music.utk.edu/events/ for upcoming UT School of Music events.

Featured photo: TNJN

Edited by Lexie Little