16 The Compass Wednesday. Decembers, 1992
The Concert Choir promotes ECSU
in its Fall tour through eastern NC
By Arlinda Banks
The Elizabeth Qty State University
Concert Choir presented its annual Fall
Concert Tour throughout eastern North
Carolina Nov. 6-9,1992. Sponsored by
the ECSU Department of Music, the tour
offered four days of music to audiences in
Goldsboro, Raleigh, Wendell, Smithfield,
and Washington, North Carolina.
The tour b^an about 6:30 a.m. Nov. 6,
with choir members standing outside
Williams Hall, waiting the arrival of the
tour bus. With suitcases packed with
choir robes, formal gowns, and tuxedos,
the choir members were set to begin.
First stop on the tour was Goldsboro
High School in Goldsboro, N.C.
After the bus approached the campus,
choir members were moving about the
tight aisle of the bus reaching up to the
top rack to get their royal blue and white
choir robes. Once they entered a rate at
the rear of one section of the schod, they
quickly filed off the bus and into the
school, from which two first-year choir
members, Meecsha Atkinson and Shonda
McNair had graduated.
Inside, the choir performed for a crowd
of ninth through 12th grade students.
Songs included, "Hodie, Christus natus
est, by Healey Willan; "Deo Gratias," by
Carl Haywood; "As By The Streams of
Babylon," by R. Nathaniel Dett.
One selection, "He's Preparing Me" by
Carol Antrom, directed by student con
ductor, Julias Goodman, bought the au
dience to its feet. Soloist Dwane Smalls,
pianist, Donald McClain, and the choir
seemed to, "Let go and let God," accord
ing to McClain.
On Monday, Nov. 9, the choir per
formed at Smithfield-Selma High School
in Smithfield, North Carolina. After the
assembly, Hines conducted amasterclass
to members of the Smithfield-Selma High
School Chorus, teaching them techniques
in singing and breathing.
The choir also performed at St. Paul
AME Church in Raleigh; at Pleasant
Groove Baptist Church in Wendell; and
atFirstUnitedMethodistChurch in Wash
ington to an interracial, standing-room
oiuy audience.
'Teople were eager to be involved
with our program," said Antoine Fries, a
freshman choir member who sings bass.
"The audience was attentive to make the
program go over successfully."
"All types of people could enjoy the
same music," said sophomore Nicholas
Hemby.
Gin^r Barnes, a native of Washington,
performed her solo "Alleluja, Exsultate
jubilate, K. V. 165" by W. A. Mozart, to an
audience which included her family,
friends and teachers.
The University Choir's 38 members
became more of a family after four days
of traveling and rooming together, and
sharing the confining space of a chartered
bus.
"Werealizethatmajorityofusarereach-
ing for the same goals in life," said Ginger
Barnes, a senior music major. "We want
to be the best we can in our respective
areas, and as a unit."
The choir also shared the emotion and
hard work of peforming.
"It created a unifying bond between
the choir and Hines. Instead of students,
we're a family," said James Bembry, a
sophomore accounting major.
Choir member say they set out on this
tour with different expectations.
"I felt the choir was prepared," said
Donald McClain, a retuming student.
"The excitement of the members, the time
put into evening and night rehearsals,
and the quality of the music all made this
a good tour."
me University Choir serves as a valu
able recruitment tool for the University,
according to choir director, Billy C. Hines.
Hin^' assistant, ECSU student, Sha
ron Wiggins, sets up displays promoting
the University at each stop, said Hines.
Included in the displays are ECSU cata
logues, pamphlets on degree progranns
offered at the University and scrapbooks
vdth information and pictures of the
University Choir.
A binder containing the resumes of al
the choir members is also on display.
Hines encourages choir members to
take ad vantage of these travel opportuni
ties and reminds them that prospective
employers may attend these perfor
mances.
Following each performance, choii
members also talk to students, whick
allows them the opportunity foroneoj-
one recruiting.
Members of the University Choir's
majors range form business administra
tion, criminal justice, education, Englisii,
geology, music, and political science.
Hines says he makes a great effort lo
showcase the individual talent of the
members. The tour exhibited the talents
of eight soloists, two student accompa
nists, three instrumentalists, two narra
tors and a student conductor, some hav
ing interchanging roles.
The University Choir performs at most
university functions,anawhenever called
upon by the Chancellor.
The choir presents fall and springtours
each year at various lcx:ations across the
country. ThechoirwillperformitsChrist-
mas Candlelighting Concert on Dec. 6at
8:00 p.m. in Mcx)re Hall Auditorium. As
conductor, Hines is accompanied by Mb
E. Vendetta Sutton, an alumna, and mu
sic instructor at ECSU.
Joynlta Robinson
Miss ECSU
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