It鈥檚 showtime for WCU鈥檚 Catamount Singers
By Tom Lotshaw
Tiffany Ren茅e Jackson and pianist Michael Yannette work with students in the Catamount Singers as they prepare for an annual spring concert on April 23.
The Catamount Singers of 甜瓜视频app are getting back in the swing of things after two years of pandemic disruptions and preparing for their annual spring concert, set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23.
Singers in one of the university鈥檚 premier vocal ensembles are feeling good. And hoping to pack the house. They returned to in-person rehearsals and performances this spring and have a new director, assistant professor of music Tiffany Ren茅e Jackson.
鈥淚t鈥檚 refreshing. It鈥檚 like a breath of fresh air,鈥� said Darius McLeod, a junior from Chapel Hill, about his third season with the Catamount Singers, which performs each spring semester. 鈥淭here just seems to be a better sense of togetherness. And it can reflect in the way we sing with each other.鈥�
Left to right: Lyndell Finger, Darius McLeod and Carson Mooring.
COVID-19 upended life for performing artists around the world. It forced the Catamount Singers to also find creative ways to collaborate, rehearse and perform remotely.
Singers in the group said they鈥檙e thrilled to be back together and preparing for the upcoming concert. It鈥檚 in the Coulter Building Recital Hall and is free and open to the public.
鈥淐ome to the show and check us out,鈥� McLeod said. 鈥淟isten to some good music and enjoy yourselves.鈥�
Madison Sciarini, a sophomore from Winter Springs, Florida, is in her second season with the Catamount Singers. After the pandemic, it鈥檚 amazing to be in person, she said.
鈥淣ow you have that human interaction, and you can talk through your parts with people, and you can really feel the music and feel the singing,鈥� Sciarini said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 super exciting. I feel like no one has seen the Catamount Singers in this way, so it鈥檚 amazing to present this new group to everybody.鈥�
Jackson, who joined WCU in fall 2021, is excited to be leading the Catamount Singers.
Tiffany Ren茅e Jackson works with Lyndell Finger on breathing techniques while he sings.
She earned her bachelor鈥檚 in music from the University of Michigan, her master鈥檚 in music from Yale University, and her doctorate from the University of Connecticut, and is an accomplished classical, jazz and opera singer who has performed on stages around the world.
Yet, leading the ensemble is something of a learning experience for Jackson. 鈥淭his is going to be my debut conducting and directing an ensemble,鈥� she said of the upcoming concert.
Students said they鈥檙e glad to have Jackson leading the ensemble and sharing her knowledge, professionalism and passion for music and teaching.
鈥淚 met Dr. Jackson when she first got here. I thought she was a force to be reckoned with, so I had to be in her class,鈥� said freshman Kennedy Cox, of Fayetteville. 鈥淚t鈥檚 even better than I could have imagined.鈥�
Mickey Prince, a freshman from Carson City, Nevada, who鈥檚 majoring in criminal justice, said she sings as an outlet for stress. She learned about the audition-only Catamount Singers in a course catalogue and tried to sign up a few classes into the semester. She sang great when she showed up to class and got to stay.
鈥淚t鈥檚 (something) I plan on continuing every spring,鈥� Prince said of the Catamount Singers. 鈥淒r. Jackson makes it a really safe place ... It really does feel like family.鈥�
Madelyn Walker rehearses a performance of 鈥淏lue,鈥� a song by LeAnn Rimes.
While Jackson works to provide a safe space for the students, she also challenges them. Each student in the group sings solo performances. That means they have to 鈥渄ig deep and bring it鈥� come showtime, Jackson said.
Jackson鈥檚 hoping to help the Catamount Singers move forward with new tours, performances and collaborations. She鈥檚 also focusing on helping the group develop an earthier, more soulful sound. She鈥檚 taking some emphasis off stage production and polish and putting it on good old-fashioned singing 鈥� pushing students to connect with their personal voices and to understand the music they鈥檙e singing and its traditions and context.
鈥淚n most choral traditions, the idea is blend, blend, blend. In the Catamount Singers, I say I don鈥檛 want you to blend. I want you to sing,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淭he students didn鈥檛 know they could learn that way. They didn鈥檛 know that learning could also mean learning about who they are. They didn鈥檛 understand that being part of a singing group could mean finding their own voice.鈥�
That鈥檚 what鈥檚 going to be on display at the spring concert, Jackson said. Some of WCU鈥檚 strongest singers performing as soloists, but also singing together through a wide range of genres. 鈥淧eople are going to see a group of everyday kids who are supporting one another, who are having the time of their lives and who are shining like superstars,鈥� Jackson said.
