Saul Ortega, Staff Writer
Lewis University provides many opportunities for students to express their singing ability. There are groups on campus that reach out to students who have different musical tastes. Students can express their love for singing as well as form close ties with the other members of that group.
The Lewis University Choir, an ensemble of 32 people, performs sacred music from all periods. Lawrence Sisk, chair of the department of music, directs this choir.
“Our favorite repertoires include Renaissance polyphony and Russian Orthodox of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries,” said Sisk. “We also perform new compositions by living composers.”
The University Choir is an a capella group that performs at Lewis University, but according to Sisk, they also perform at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in Lockport, Illinois as well as other churches in south suburban Chicago. They occasionally perform with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra.
Rehearsals are every Tuesday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Ives Hall of the Oremus Fine Arts Center. Eligibility for joining the group involves scheduling an audition with Dr. Sisk. Auditions are open to students, faculty, staff and the community.
Their next performance is on Tuesday, Dec. 7 in the Sancta Alberta Chapel and the admission is free.
A second group open to expressive singers is the Gospel choir. This choir is currently directed by Zorriante Brown, who said the main purpose of the group is to showcase inspirational and uplifting music.
“We introduce music in the form of words from the Bible,” said Brown.
The group sings songs of encouragement and of thanks for God’s blessing.
“Our three main points of focus is ministry, organization and focus,” said Brown.
The members of the Gospel choir form close bonds with each other. They come from different backgrounds and understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and the spirit of diversity.
This choir enhances the members’ social skills and helps showcase their talents. By being in the group, they have a better understanding of cultural differences.
“We all go to different churches and we may not pray the same way, but we understand that difference and we embrace it,” said Brown.
The Gospel choir is not strictly a capella. While they may sing some songs a capella, they also sing along with an accompaniment. There is also no prerequisite to join and anybody can join even if they don’t have any singing experience.
They rehearse every Monday night at 7 p.m. in Ives Hall of the Oremus Fine Arts Center. Their next performance is the Thanksgiving Musical, which is on Monday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Sancta Alberta Chapel and the admission is free.
Harmonic Uprising is another group at Lewis that provides students an alternative stylistic musical experience. It is the first collegiate a capella group formed at Lewis and was founded in the fall of 2008 by Music Merchandising major, Brian Schmidt.
“We cross all genres: Alternative, Rock, Country, Christian, Hip-Hop, Pop and Oldies,” said Schmidt. “We have something for every listener.”
According to Schmidt, the only requirement needed to join is to be an undergrad student and fulfill an audition. Ability to read music is also a helpful skill to have.
“Harmonic really provides a good place for people to express themselves musically and also to forge strong friendships through a love of music,” says Schmidt.
However, being a part of the group is not easy.
“A cappella requires a great deal of skill and soloing with the group is tough,” says Schmidt.
Additionally, “The arrangements and choreography require creativity and we’re always thinking of the next thing we can do to get fans involved in our concerts,” said Schmidt.
Harmonic Uprising rehearses twice a week. They have two performances taking place this semester on campus. An upcoming concert is on Sunday, Oct. 31 in the Student Union and the other is on Wednesday, Dec. 8 in the Sancta Alberta Chapel. Admission is free.
Saul Ortega
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