Singers Strike Again!
Alumni, family and friends gathered in wonder as the esteemed Laurentian Singers made their way to the alter of Grace Church Cathedral in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, led by director Dr. D. Jason Bishop. In attendance was Barbara S. Christie ’76, who fondly recalled her time as a member of the Laurentian Singers, ultimately leading to the current group being invited to her church while on their tour of the Carolinas.
The Laurentian Singers, a select ensemble of 23 St. Lawrence University students, attend a university- funded tour every spring break. Their previous destinations include Puerto Rico, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Grace Church Cathedral was not the only concert location. The group performed for the public five times throughout the week and performed for high school choir classes an additional two times.
While the primary focus of the tour is performing, it also gives the Singers a week to connect with people outside of Canton, New York. For instance, a large group of students visited the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, and an even larger group of students convinced their bus driver to bring them to the beach one evening. Terry Leak, a motor coach operator employed through Black Tie Transportation, Inc., says of the Laurentian Singers, “The choir was an absolute delight to be with.” The Singers could say the same about you, Terry!
The group members also connect as they spend countless hours together in hotel rooms, airports, and concert venues. “Throughout the week we bond in ways that cannot happen in just our rehearsals. We get to see new things and meet new people together while simultaneously getting to know one another on a deeper level,” says Chantel McCarthy ’25. McCarthy has been a member of the group since her first year and was present for the group traveling to San Francisco, New York City, Boston, and Burlington. “My peers challenge me to step outside of my comfort zone and make memories that’ll last me a lifetime.”
The Laurentian Singers are a dedicated group of students who rehearse at least four hours a week. When spring break arrives, their repertoire is refined and prepared well enough to be performed repeatedly with few mistakes.
Maddy McGlinn ’27 says, “by the time tour comes around, we have put so much time into learning the music and created such a strong community that performing comes very naturally to us.” Rehearsals take time and energy, like all good things do. However, the group believes frequent and consistent rehearsals are the key to their success. She continues, “being able to trust each other within the music is what brings it to the next level and tour allows us to grow our trust within one another.”
You can catch the Laurentian Singers performing a light-themed program at the solar eclipse celebration this Monday, April 8, on the Kirk Douglas Quad. If you still cannot get enough, they will be performing alongside St. Lawrence Choral Society in Gunnison Chapel on Friday, April 19 at 7 p.m.