UT Tyler Choir to Perform Upcoming Fall Concert, “Promised Land,” Oct. 14
Photo courtesy of the UT Tyler School of Performing Arts.
By BREANNA BOLLE/Staff Writer
UT Tyler’s Patriot Singers are holding their upcoming Fall Choir Concert, “Promised Land,” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14. The concert will take place at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Flint and is free to the public.
“Promised Land” is a concert that will focus on the music of “faith and folk traditions.”
“Promised Land” advertisement. Photo courtesy of the UT Tyler School of Performing Arts.
Dr. Cameron Rose, Director of UT Tyler Choral Activities. Photo courtesy of the UT Tyler School of Performing Arts.
UT Tyler Choirs
UT Tyler has both the “Patriot Singers” and “Concert Chorale” in the School of Performing Arts. Dr. Cameron Rose is the current director of choral activities, and has been in his position since 2008.
According to Rose, since the choir’s foundation, they have sung everything from “the National Anthem for the Dallas Mavericks to singing with the East Texas Symphony … to many (runout) performances.”
Rose mentions that the choirs represent UT Tyler when performing at a variety of community events.
“Our choirs perform a vibrant repertoire all the way from early Renaissance to modern-day vocal jazz, ” Rose said. “At this particular concert … we’re highlighting music that is sacred in nature, as well as folk tunes and African-American spirituals … most of (the pieces) are centered around some type of message like ‘we’re going to the Promiseland.'”
Rose believes that students and community members of all ages would greatly benefit from attending the concert. He also said that the choirs provide students with a community to grow and collaborate.
Dr. Rose conducts the choir during practice. Photo courtesy of Breanna Bolle.
According to Rose, both choirs are made of many non-music majors and he invites and encourages students of any major interested in joining to reach out and/or audition.
Students who are a part of the “Patriot Singers” or “Concert Chorale” can sometimes even earn elective credits through their participation.
See choir students practicing here: UT Tyler Choir Practice
Student Experiences
UT Tyler students Anna Bertino (sophomore) and Sydney Moseley (junior) are both sopranos in the choir.
Bertino joined the choir in the fall of 2022 and enjoys “building relationships with (her) fellow singers.” She believes Rose is an inspiring director and wishes success for his students.
Bertino said, “Dr. Rose is such an amazing professor pushing us towards excellent musicianship while maintaining a unique and inspiring classroom atmosphere.”
She looks forward to performing at the new St. Mary Magdalene Catholic church, as she believes it will provide the choir with wonderful cathedral acoustics.
Like many other choir students, Bertino encourages everyone available to attend the upcoming concert, since “… choral music is a wholly unique and different experience when attended in person … It is an outstanding chance to go enjoy people you may or may not know by listening together to enriching music.”
Moseley is a music major and considers her voice her second instrument.
She joined the UT Tyler choir because she had a multitude of friends participate over the years and she was looking to join ensembles.
“I love the community!” Moseley said. “I’ve made so many amazing friends through the choir and we have so much fun both in and out of rehearsals.”
Moseley said the ensemble is “really connected” and that they hope to share this connection with the audience through their performance at the upcoming concert.
“That’s part of the joy of live performances, and we’re all really excited for the concert coming up,” Moseley said.
OTHER STORIES
I am a part of the Concert Chorale as well as the Patriot Singers, and I can not agree more with Anna and Sydney. This article represents the choir and Dr. Rose so well. He is an extremely talented director and musician. I am not a music major, rather, I am a nursing major, but I am still able to really appreciate Dr. Rose and the work he does with us (his students). This has been one of my best experiences here at the University of Texas at Tyler, and I would highly recommend that anyone with even a slight interest reach out to Dr. Rose! If you are worried about being too busy, do not worry! I am highly involved here on campus as I am in a sorority, on the cheer and stunt team, participate in both choirs, and manage to keep up with my studies. You can do it!! All in all, I have never regretted being a part of this experience!
Thanks for your review, Emma! So glad you like both the article and the choir!