On Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, the Department of Music hosted its annual Honor Choir at UTM.
The event concluded with a performance from high school and UTM students in the Harriet Fulton Theatre, as directed by Interim Director of Choirs Dr. Samuel Barbara.
The New Pacers Singers along with the high school guest singers performed “Mass No. 2 in G major” by Franz Schubert, with six movements. UTM Music Education majors Rachael Holloway, a soprano; Timothy Johnson, a tenor; and Aaron Hand, a bass, provided solo performances.
This marked the first Honor Choir performance that Barbara has conducted.
“The performance was excellent. Everybody gave it their all and I believe everyone can be very proud of their work,” Barbara said.
Since this was Barbara’s first time working with the Honor Choir, he was pleased to see a group of students willing to concentrate and follow instructions.
“I had a great time working with this talented group of students. They came prepared and were very focused throughout the rehearsal process. As a result, we were really able to sink our teeth into the details and make some fabulous music. The students should be proud of what they accomplished in such a short time,” Barbara said.
Because the students were prepared, Barbara felt that he was able to make the performance more refined.
“You never know with an Honor Choir how well prepared the students will be, but they came in really knowing their stuff. This allowed us to get to some of the finer details, which makes for a much more enjoyable experience for the audience and singer alike,” Barbara said.
“This is truly what an Honor Choir should be and I am hopeful that the energy we have generated will be very attractive for potential students. Continuing to build on this momentum, it is hoped that this choir will get stronger and stronger with each year.”
As for his choice of the Schubert piece for his first time directing the Honor Choir, Barbara said that he has always enjoyed the piece.
“I have always loved this work, and I felt the drama contained in the composition would be very attractive for the students,” Barbara said.
Barbara also believes that the students seemed to enjoy the piece as much as he did.
In the end, Barbara considered the Honor Choir performance a success, saying that he had the opportunity to witness what he enjoys most about directing music.
“I love watching the looks on the faces of young people when they realize what they are really capable of. I think there were many students who had that experience this weekend, and I was honored to be a part of it,” Barbara said.
