School of Music gains new all-male choral ensemble in fall
Joshua Day, a third-year music education student, has been singing since he was a baby, and thanks to the School of Music's new men's ensemble, he can share his talents with fellow students and the community while earning class credit.
MUSC 128, listed on the master schedule as Men's Glee Club, is a new course offered through USC's School of Music. The one-credit course will meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday. The group is open to all male students of any major.
While Day has been singing for many years, being in an all-men's ensemble will be a new experience.
"Music and singing has always been a part of my life, from the very beginning," Day said. "I've never been in a men's-only ensemble, and I'm very excited to hear the sound of all men singing."
Alicia Walker will direct the new group. Walker is currently in her first year of teaching at USC. She previously taught at the University of Georgia and has been conducting school and church choirs throughout her career, in addition to teaching music education. Walker is the conductor of USC's University Chorus, the school's largest choral ensemble, and she also teaches choral conducting and music education courses.
Although the course is a new addition, the group's history is steeped in tradition.
"If you go back to the beginning of the School of Music, University Chorus was originally Men's Glee and Women's Glee," Walker said. "At some point early on, [they] were combined into University Chorus. So, this isn't the first men's choir that existed here."
Starting a men's ensemble at USC was Walker's idea, and she thinks doing so will greatly benefit the university.
"I really believe that a university this size can support a really strong men's choir," Walker said.
Students of all majors are encouraged to enroll in the course, as they aren't required to study music to participate in the group.
"My target population for this choir is nonmajors. Music majors are welcome, and I'd love them to come sing, but I really would love to reach out across campus," Walker said.
The choir will meet once a week, and Walker, keeping USC students' priorities in mind, took special care with choosing the rehearsal end time.
"I've scheduled the rehearsal to end at 8:30 p.m., so they can be done in time for Monday Night Football kickoff," Walker said.
Day said the time commitment is just right, too.
"I needed an ensemble that wouldn't conflict with my work and class schedule," he said. "This class fits perfectly in my schedule."
While the ensemble may be called a Glee Club, the group won't be anything like the fictional Dalton Academy Warblers or New Directions seen on the highly rated Fox show "Glee." Walker said the name follows tradition for college choirs, but she plans to change the group's name in the future to deter association with the television show.
Walker has already begun selecting music for the group and said the repertoire will include a variety of genres, including spirituals, folk songs and sea shanties.
"We'll do a lot of real creative programming," Walker said.
Walker has also chosen a men's arrangement of the alma mater and national anthem for performances at campus sporting events.
First-year music education student Drew Bozard heard about the ensemble from Walker during advisement and decided to enroll to learn conducting techniques while singing with fellow students.
"I decided to join because I love singing, and also because I want to observe rehearsal techniques for men's ensembles," Bozard said. "I'm excited to meet new people and also work with people I already know in a different way. Plus, men's choral repertoire is a lot of fun to sing."
Day said joining the group will provide him another performance opportunity. He advises other men to give it a shot as well.
"Music enriches your life," Day said. "You really will find that music can become a stress reliever. You will learn so much and have tons of support from all the other men in the group."
Bozard also encourages others to sign up for the fun factor.
"Other students should consider joining because they get to take a class with Dr. Walker and because it is a fun opportunity to do some great singing," Bozard said. "Consider signing up if you have the time."