Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2013 - (Page 10)

SHUttERStoCk together as one by Alicia lai I the All-national Honor Mixed Choir have been a proud chorus geek ever since joining the school chorus in fourth grade. I love being part of a group in which all members—whether soprano, alto, tenor, or bass—are equally important. I revel in communicating the beauty and meaning of an emotionally charged song so that the experience is a journey for both singer and listener. And I also enjoy the challenge: singing in a chorus requires discipline, maturity, and a common desire to perform a piece of music to its—and the group’s—full potential. Many directors say that the goal of choral singing is to blend voices so perfectly that the audience discerns only one encompassing voice per part. Achieving this requires a consistent flow of sound, so each chorus member must learn how often their neighbors breathe and then take catch breaths at a different time. Unlike orchestra and band members, chorus members perform standing, without music stands. Rehearsals often entail standing for hours on cramped risers under hot stage lights while maintaining good posture and optimum breath support. In other words, it is physically demanding. It can also be mentally and emotionally 10 imagine demanding, because each member must be willing to accept criticism and to repeat any given section of music as many times as it takes to meet the director’s specifications. the next level In my freshman year of high school, my chorus director, Mr. Goetke, encouraged me to audition for New Jersey’s All-Shore Chorus. I liked the idea of motivated students from across two counties coming together to create music. After fretting over the audition material (a high scale, low scale, chromatic scale, arpeggio, and a quartet) and polishing my tonal memory, or “sight-singing,” skills, I was excited to be accepted into the group as a soprano. At the first rehearsal, I was overwhelmed to see so many talented singers, and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to sight-read the complex music fast enough. But in just over a month, we mastered and performed in concert a mix of intricate and difficult pieces, including Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque,” Moses Hogan’s “The Battle of Jericho,” and an original arrangement of Stevie Nicks’ “Landslide.” In my sophomore year, I learned online about the All-National mar/apr 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2013

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2013
Contents
Big Picture
In My Own Words
Music to My Ears
Together as One
Circle of Inspiration
Six Strings and a Dream
In Pursuit of Joy
Jazz Studies, Improvised
Music in College
From the Great Wall to the Golden Gate
Sines and Wonders
Selected Opportunities & Resources
My Journey Through the College Admissions Process
How It Feels to Run
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2013