Campus News

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 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.” 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.

Will Sunderland performing in GU’s Messiah.

INTO THE UNKNOWN

Questions, mysteries, and a confident advocate

“You can do this.”

Demetrius Bush ’15, then a sophomore, took the application from his accounting professor, unsure what it meant.

In a nutshell, the Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Preparation Program meant all expenses paid for select minority accounting students to access training, resources, and mentors that prepare them for paid internships. It meant that Demetrius—if accepted— would also interview with multiple employers for internships. Top-tier firms filled five of the internships with the candidates of their choice.

Professor Larry Saylor directed Demetrius to this opportunity because he suspected Demetrius could see his way through the competitive process. “His belief in me by handing me the application played a big part in my decision,” recalls Demetrius, who didn’t want to squander Saylor’s faith in him. The interview process at the end of the program resembled speed dating. A stream of hiring managers peppered Demetrius with questions. “I knew with 100 percent certainty that if I could sit in front of someone in a live interview, I could be one of those top five to get offers,” he recalls. Ernst & Young offered Demetrius an internship that later opened doors to a job at one of the “big four” accounting firms. By the end of his senior year, Demetrius had signed a contract. Now an accounting manager in the San Francisco area, he looks back on a process that yielded both professional and personal rewards.

“It reaffirmed my strengths. It was also the first time I really took my career into my own hands intentionally. It was my first big leap into a very competitive field. [It] made me D e m e t r i u s B u s h ’ 1 5 understand just how valuable impressions are. You never know who has an amazing opportunity in their hands, waiting to hand it to you.”

Demetrius received numerous donor-funded scholarships including the GU Dean’s, Hopkins, Culp, and Willmot Scholarships. Thank you for giving.

GU Core Value: Thriving

Advocates for GU student-student athletes, golfers (l to r) Josh Morgan ’15, Doug Morgan ’87, Kent Krober ’78, Tom Morgan ’60

SCRAMBLE RAISES MORE THAN $15,000

Last summer, GU’s annual Jack D. Trager Memorial Panther Pride Golf Scramble honored the memory of GU’s longtime athletic director Jack Trager. The July 31 event recalled Trager’s profound influence as a mentor to student athletes and a role model for coaches. Today’s Panther coaches echo Trager’s approach by going beyond teaching skills and strategies to also developing strong character in their players. About 40 sponsors participated in this year’s event that raised more than $15,000. Proceeds will assist with capital improvements, including renovation to Burritt Gymnasium, that benefit GU athletes and coaches.

GU PODCAST HELPS FAMILIES SHOP FOR COLLEGE

A new podcast, College Context, hosted by GU admissions counselors, addresses a range of topics prospective students and their parents encounter as they make decisions about attending college. As admissions counselors, KD McLean ’18 and Mark Barigye ’19 regularly connect families to resources that inform decisions. As podcast hosts, the pair extends the conversation to listeners further afield. They demystify financial aid and delve into matters like public versus private universities, acquiring college experiences that hiring managers value, and the benefits of a diverse student body. Sidney Webster ’21 produces the podcast. Listen in at https://collegecontext.buzzsprout.com.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL EARNS NINTH AVCA TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD

GU’s 2019-20 Lady Panthers received the Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). AVCA created the award in 1992 to recognize teams who match their dedication on the volleyball court with academic excellence. Honored teams maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative team GPA on a 4.0 scale for the year. This AVCA academic award marks the Lady Panthers’ ninth.

2020 FALL TEAM SPORTS MOVED TO SPRING 2021

Governance groups for the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) and Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) voted to move select 2020 fall sports to spring. Panther volleyball and soccer teams will now compete in SLIAC’s spring 2021 season. Panther football will compete as part of UMAC competition, also in the spring. As of printing, plans remained in place for men’s and women’s cross country and tennis teams to compete in the fall.