An engineer and a computer science major join the stage with choral experts to belt out traditional songs in Latin, while a nursing major chimes in with a sharp soprano in Hebrew.
Singing in six different languages, Ball State University students will showcase their talent in the last of the four performances this year.
The choir department will present three non-auditioned ensembles in Sursa Hall at 8 p.m. The performance includes a wide variety of music spanning multiple genres from vocal jazz to traditional African songs.
"In total, there will be six different languages they will be singing in," Duane Karna, director of the choral program at Ball State, said. "We've also included a mixture of some more popular songs into the show."
Karna has been in charge of organizing and planning all of the choral events and Andrew Crow, the assistant choral director, along with his graduate assistant and doctoral candidate Jeremy Flock, will be conducting all the performances.
Flock has been working towards a doctorate in fine arts with a focus on choral conducting. This performance will serve as one of the requirements for his degree.
"I'm letting Jeremy conduct the Women's Chorus," Karna said. "I will be supervising instead."
This non-traditional choir concert will be divided into three sections with each ensemble performing a few songs.
The Statesmen, an all-male ensemble, will be performing under the direction of Crow. The Statesmen's songs will focus on themes related to peace, including a traditional African song and a piece from the musical "Sweeney Todd" among other selections.
Crow will also be directing the University Choral Union, a group of co-ed singers who will be performing last. They will sing the "Choral Medley" from "West Side Story," a spiritual song and more.
Fun and acceptance are what the choral program is about, Karna said.
"The Statesmen, our women's choir and the University Choral Union are open to anyone who wants to join," he said. "Just showing up and trying your best is all that is required."
About half of the choir is not directly involved in any music training classes through the university. Instead, many of them come from a variety of different backgrounds.
"We've had everything from the hard science types to the liberal arts students," Karna said. "We just want everyone to enjoy themselves and put on a good show."
Flock said that the concert tonight is for all audience types.
"There will be something for everybody," Flock said. "We wanted to make it enjoyable for not only the entire audience but also our wide variety of singers."
The final show from the choral department will be Saturday when the Chamber Choir and the University Choral Union will be performing "Carmina Burana," a collection of Latin poems from the 12th century.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
