Wright State’s Men’s Chorale is looking for new members for fall semester.
This quarter the Chorale had around thirty-five members. They are hoping to grow for the upcoming year.
The Men’s Chorale was started in 1995 by Dr. James Tipps, Associate Professor of Music.
The Chorale recently returned from a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, where they performed at a national conference at Morehouse College. Wright State’s Men’s Chorale was one of four Ohio schools at the conference. The others were Ohio State, Bowling Green University and Miami University. They spent three days there performing and watching concerts.
According to Brandon Semler, sophomore and two year Chorale member, the trip was a bonding experience for the Chorale.
The Men’s Chorale also holds a variety show every year where each member may do whatever style of music they like. Some use instruments while others just use their voice.
“We get to do such a variety of music,” Tipps said. “There is something different about men’s voices acoustically. We have a wide spectrum and it’s this rich sound that you don’t get with other types of choirs.”
In the past the Men’s Chorale sang the National Anthem for the grand opening of Schuster Hall as well as at a Wright State basketball game.
The Chorale will sing with Alumni at the Alumni Concert on May 19. They will also perform with the Chamber Orchestra for the Randall Thompson Testament of Freedom concert on May 29.
Any male student interested in joining the Chorale should contact Tipps at james.tipps@wright.edu. Auditions are scheduled at students’ convenience. According to Tipps, the audition is “easy, low pressure” and does not include sight reading. The Chorale has members ranging from beginners to those with more experience. Students do not need to be music majors to join. Students who are interested may sit in on rehearsals which take place Mon., Wed. and Fri 11-11:50 a.m.
“It’s nice to always have that set rehearsal time,” Semler said. “It’s a great break in the day. It’s a relief. If more guys were aware that this program was in existence, there would be more guys singing in it.”
Tipps welcomes any male student who is interested in singing.
“It’s a mix of people. It’s a neat cross section of life,” Tipps said.
