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Choir warms up for winter concert
Yoga positions practiced in rehearsals
Violet Canelo vcanelo.roundupnews@gmail.com
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As the holiday season slowly approaches and people prepare to tune their environments to match the universal mood of celebration, the choir staff at Pierce College anticipates success in their own embellishing of the students’ voices– tuning them up to perform at the upcoming holiday concert.
“We are instruments of peace and music of the season,” music professor Cathryn Tortell says as she describes how the concert includes many different backgrounds and religious affiliations.
The holidays are just around the corner and the choir is practicing in class and at home in order to put on a successful show for all who will attend.
The choir prepares in more ways than one, including physical activity in addition to their vocal practices.
“We do yoga stretches, breathing exercises, 10 to 15 minutes of warmups,” Tortell says “…and then dig into the literature right away.”
All the students in the choir will participate and two or three students will audition to be showcased.
The auditions will be held in three weeks and only a few will be chosen out of the group.
UD/Roundup
REHEARSAL: Choral director Cathryn Tortell (foreground) leads Pierce College Choir members through one of a series of yoga positions in Music Room 3400 on Monday, Sept. 10. The warm-ups were designed to prepare students mentally and physically for the challenges of mastering vocals in several different languages.
The concert will take place at Pierce College on Dec. 1, 2012 and tickets will be sold ahead of time, according to staff in the Music Department.
“Music is medicine for the soul,” Tortell says as she welcomes all Pierce students to attend. “It is one art that we all share in this world.”
The Music Department recently submitted paperwork to form and organize a Pierce College
Women’s Ensemble Club. They have also formed a Facebook page which includes updates and pictures of the college choir.
If any students are interested in joining the college choir next semester, the Music Department loves to see new faces and encourages students to try it out.
“Go for it,” Tortell says. “Students have nothing to
