MC singers to work with students, parents and staff at East Tennessee Vocal Association’s marquee event
Nov. 16, 2022
This weekend, the public is invited to experience the sonorous power of hundreds of voices as Maryville College hosts the East Tennessee Vocal Association’s annual All-East Chorus.
From Thursday, Nov. 17, through Saturday, Nov. 19, qualifying high school students from across East Tennessee will congregate at MC to rehearse, culminating in a multi-choir performance at the Clayton Center for the Arts’ Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre on Saturday afternoon.
“All East is an opportunity for the best high school choral singers to audition to be in very select ensembles, which hire incredible conductors to come in and work with them for three days,” said Stacey Wilner, the College’s director of choral activities.
After passing a rigorous screening process in September, students are separated into three different composition groups: mixed (SATB), women’s (SSAA) and men’s (TTBB). Each group is assigned music selected to complement their respective vocal arrangements, which students then learn prior to meeting up at All-East for final rehearsals.
MC choral students will work with the Clayton Center staff to ensure an enjoyable event for visiting students, parents and community members, Wilner added. Additionally, members of the MC ensembles Off Kilter and Lads and Lassies are scheduled to rehearse and perform with All-East participants on Friday.
Although Maryville College continued to host the All-East choral performance through the COVID-19 pandemic, this year will be the first without audience restrictions implemented for virus mitigation, according to Wilner.
“Because of COVID, a lot of choirs have seen enrollment numbers drop, and some have just died away,” Wilner said. “This is just one of many rebuilding efforts to get people singing again.”
It’s also a great opportunity for the community to experience the “sheer power and volume of that many voices,” according to Wilner.
“That doesn’t happen so much anymore, but it used to be a very popular thing,” she added. “So, even if you don’t know anything about choral music, it will be worth your while to come and listen because of how overwhelming and unique it all is.”
Saturday’s All-East Chorus performance begins at 2:15 p.m. with the Freshman Choir. Each choir’s performance lasts approximately 30 minutes, with women’s, men’s and mixed choirs to follow. Admission is free, and the concert is open to the public.
MC ensembles announce concerts
Maryville College’s own ensembles have a busy holiday schedule ahead of them: the youth organizations Highlander Chorale and the Scottie Singers will perform at 6 p.m. Nov. 22 in the Clayton Center’s Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall. The full power of the MC Division of Fine Arts will be on public display at the College’s annual Christmas concert, scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 6 in the Nutt Theatre and featuring the Orchestra at Maryville College, the Maryville College Community Chorus, the MC3 Band, Off Kilter, Tartanband, the MC Concert Choir, the Lads and Lassies and the youth choirs.
More details on those events and more can be found through the Clayton Center for the Arts website or by contacting Wilner at stacey.wilner@maryvillecollege.edu. For more information, call the Clayton Center box office at 865-981-8590.