MTSU Chorus Gives Stand-Up Performance

By Desmond Johnson

MTSU Raider Shakedown Reporter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—The MTSU Singers gave a wonderful performance on the night of April 17 at a concert in the music hall of the Wright Music building at Middle Tennessee State University.

The concert was made up of nine singers and five instrumentalists. A total of eight songs were performed, including a circle song that volunteers from the crowd used to display their vocal skills. The concert lasted an hour and a half with a crowd of about 150 people in the audience. The crowd was very connected and cheered and clapped after each song was finished. Soprano Jenny Mills and alto Nikki Elias both gave outstanding solo performances. Jenny Mills sang “Cherokee” and Nikki Elias sang “Wave”. Saxophone player Tristan Gordon also gave a great solo performance during Jenny Mills solo.

“I’m usually nervous before the concert,” said Gordon in an interview following the concert. “But when it’s time for my solo, I seem to zone out, for a minute it is just me and my saxophone.”

MTSU Singers Director Cedric Dent was satisfied with the performance of his chorus and praised them afterwards. Dent has been part of the MTSU music program since 2011. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Michigan where he is originally from.

He is responsible for selecting and narrowing down the singers from the fall audition held every school year. Students who make it in are asked to stay in the chorus at least one full school year.

Dent had a career as a singer before becoming a music coordinator. He sang in a gospel jazz group named “Take 6” for 25 years.

“There are always things that we can work on and improve on but they did a great job,” said Dent when asked how he felt about his MTSU Singers overall performance.

The MTSU School of Music has a history of providing education to students who have gone on to have successful music careers. The school invites supporters of music education to make tax-deductible donation gifts to the School of Music. Donations will make a big impact on current and future students, pushing them to become composers, conductors, educators, historians, industry specialists, performers and music theorists.

 For more information on how to support the MTSU School of Music, contact School of Music Director Michael Parkinson at (615) 898-2469 or College of Liberal Arts Developments Officer Meredith Kerr at (615) 898-5223. You can also visit www.mtsu.edu/supportMT.

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