practice online through a program called My Choral Coach. The program allows Frazure to share sheet music and recordings with students digitally and assign pieces for independent practice. Each student records and uploads his or her singing to the program for Frazure to review. Students can devote hours to mastering new songs and tricky measures from the safety of their rooms; Frazure provides individualized feedback. When the choir gathers, ample space in Whitlock accommodates social distancing. This model represents new territory for Frazure. His previous experiences—in opera performance, music education, and worship ministry—took place face-to-face. He’s not alone. COVID-19 forced choral conductors all over to explore unfamiliar practice methods. “None of us knew how to do this before the pandemic,” Frazure
says. Open minds and willingness to learn brought new possibilities. Groups like the American Choral Directors Association urged software companies to further develop programs like My Choral Coach. Some conductors now combine individual vocal tracks from each choir member into one recorded piece and forego live performance altogether. TUNEFUL TECHNOLOGY This fall, choir members under the direction of Don Frazure and members of all worship ensembles will wear special masks developed by singers for singers. The masks help contain droplets while allowing space around the mouth for performers to sing comfortably. Frazure resists going that far. He intends to keep as many GU Choir traditions alive as possible, including
popular events like the annual Messiah performance. “Music is meant to be shared among people,” he says. “That’s the intangible part about making music that I think we all took for granted pre-COVID.” Still, he appreciates that innovative technology helps reduce risks. Technology also allows broader audience engagement. Whereas GU livestreamed only select concerts in the past, it will livestream all concerts from Whitlock this semester, opening the entire choir season to alumni and friends from coast to coast and beyond. Whether in person or online, Frazure affirms choral activities at GU will continue without missing a beat until the days when it’s safe to gather again.
With Time on His Hands to Imagine . . . Last spring’s pandemic-induced isolation and social distancing couldn’t stop GU’s Will Sunderland ’21 from exploring new territory mastering the demanding lead vocals of the jazz song “Social Call.” One idea led to another, and he teamed up with Marissa Horning ’23 (vocals), Noah Schlosser ’20 (drums), Nathan Moll ’20 (Bass), Professor of Worship Arts Paul Sunderland (guitar), and Nashville musician Nick Monterio (piano) to record the cover. Will’s curiosity then took a different track. He peppered mixer and producer Jeremiah Smith ’21 with questions about that part of the process. “I have an ardent desire to learn what I do not know,” says Sunderland, who triple majors in psychology, Spanish, and organizational leadership. Visit spotify.com to hear Will’s version of “Social Call.” Will Sunderland performing in GU’s Messiah.
THE RECORD | FALL 2020
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