Sophomore music performance major Brad Kieper has always wanted to sing onstage.
At the annual University Singers Cabaret concert Friday in Sursa Hall, he sang the opening solo, "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban, as director Alan Alder accompanied him on piano.
"I want to show people I can, to show them what they think I can't or won't do," Kieper said. "You just can't take singing out of my life."
For Kieper, who was a founding member of his high school's show choir, the song selection holds personal meaning — one that affirms his decision to study vocal performance.
"It means a lot to me, whenever I'm going through a tough time in my life, it's just one of those songs I always put on and turn to," he said.
Last semester marked Kieper's first year as a cast member for the group that is known as the state's official goodwill ambassadors, a role it has maintained on campus since it entertained its first audience in John R. Emens Auditorium when Ball State became a university in 1965.
Alder said the group started rehearsals for Cabaret this year in early January and thought Friday's performance was just a small preview of what the group is working on for its annual Spectacular concert in April.
"Sursa Hall always has excellent sound reinforcement, and the show shows that," he said.
The group is also working on incorporating more multimedia components to its program to showcase the group's 46-year history.
"I love whenever we can bring more visual layers to enhance the live show," he said.
Kieper and the rest of the Singers cast sang and danced together in choreographed numbers in between solo performances. The Cabaret concert recognizes the group's official day of celebration.
The group's opening number — a choreographed routine to the Backstreet Boys' "Larger Than Life" — kicked off the hour-long program that junior dance choreography major Brooke Jendrusik said epitomized the group's tradition of sharing songs of hope, faith, laughter and love. Jendrusik, Singers dance captain, said the song selections this year were more up to date than previous years.
"We're always looking to branch out to a younger audience," she said.
Jendrusik offered her acoustic rendition of Sheryl Crow's "The First Cut is the Deepest" — a surprise performance she said was dedicated to her mother.
Other highlights included Lindsey Morgan's take on Whitney Houston's "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?"; Derek Wilson's solo "What Is It About Her?" from "The Wild Party"; Brandon Buller's acoustic version of OutKast's "Hey Ya"; and the group's ballad, "As Long As You're Mine" from Broadway musical "Wicked."
Among others, assistant director Debbie Andis served as commentator between performances. A Singers alumna from the 1970s, she explained the group's commitment to excellence and reminisced about the friendships she still maintains with cast members from 30 years ago.
"It's like having a huge extended family," she said.
46th Annual University Singers Spectacular
When: 7:30 p.m. April 9 and 10
Where: Emens Auditorium
Tickets: $10 general admission, $15 reserved seating, $5 for students with valid ID. Tickets available at the Emens Box Office
For more information about the group visit univsingers.iweb.bsu.edu/
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