Brock choirs are back this fall and singing a hopeful tune for a busy season of choral activities for the University and wider Niagara community.<\/p>\n
Choir auditions are now open and will be running online throughout the summer for two ensembles: University Choir and Sora Singers.<\/p>\n
University Choir is a mixed voice ensemble for soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices and is open to all members of the Brock community, including students, faculty and staff.<\/p>\n
Sora Singers (formerly the Brock Women\u2019s Choir) is an upper-voice ensemble for anyone with a soprano or alto voice. Auditions for Sora Singers are open to the Brock community as well as the wider Niagara community.<\/p>\n
Rachel Rensink-Hoff, Associate Professor of Music at Brock\u2019s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA) and Artistic Director of Brock University Choral Activities, is hopeful that choir members will be able to sing together in person, pending public health and Brock University protocols.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a really tough year and as singers, we are all feeling rusty,\u201d she said. \u201cBuilding our vocal technique will certainly be the top priority when we convene in the fall to rebuild our singing community.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the past year posed challenges for Brock\u2019s choirs, Rensink-Hoff feels there were key lessons learned through experimentation with digital platforms, which she hopes will be integrated into the program going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we are all familiar with collaborative opportunities in online formats, this coming year we will be virtually welcoming several composers whose works we will be studying and performing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Diversity and inclusion are also top of mind for Rensink-Hoff as the she plans for the coming season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am committed to diversifying our performance repertoire and spending more intentional time together exploring the voices of under-represented composers and communities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n