Following a tradition years in the making, the Northeast Collegiate Chorale will perform its semester concert May 1.
“Chorale is a mixed choir,” director Bobbie Douglass said. “This means that we have sopranos, altos, tenors and basses singing together.”
The group, which has been part of TCC for more than 20 years, is made up of students who love to sing and gives them an opportunity to do so in a group on a regular basis, Douglass said.
“Chorale sings a variety of music,” Douglass said.
Included in the mix are genres such as classical, gospel, jazz, folk and musical theater.
But that’s not the only way the group keeps its performances fresh, Douglass said.
“Sometimes, the girls in the choir sing a number by themselves. Sometimes, the boys sing their own men’s quartet piece,” she said. “It changes from semester to semester.”
Many of the students come into the group with previous singing experience.
“Most of the Chorale members have sung in choirs in high school,” she said. “Most can read music and want to continue to sing.”
However, that does not mean that students interested in the group have to have a choir background to audition, Douglass said.
“We welcome anyone who loves to sing and is willing to work hard in rehearsal,” she said.
The only audition requirements are to demonstrate the vocal range a student possesses and to sing any type of song for Douglass.
“If a student doesn’t have anything prepared to sing, then I will sometimes ask them to sing a patriotic song,” she said.
But Douglass said Chorale gives students more than just a chance to share their passion for music with others.
“Chorale gives each student a family to belong to, a support system,” she said. “They make long-lasting friendships, which they take with them, even after leaving Tarrant County College.”
And the importance of choir goes beyond making those lasting friendships, Douglass said.
“Choir teaches us language, appreciation of beauty, and how to express emotions,” she said. “The singers in Chorale all have something in common: love of music, love of performing in a group and love of learning about poetry and texts.”
Chorale students spend all semester preparing and practicing for concerts such as this, Douglass said.
The group meets 11:15 a.m.-12:10 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
“During this time, [Chorale members] rehearse to prepare music for the concert at the end of the semester,” she said.
This semester’s concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Shady Oaks Baptist Church, 1336 Cavender Drive in Hurst.
