Director develops program to appeal to wide audience
by Eric Hooker, reporter

    Music attracts people of all cultures, manifesting spiritual comfort and social relevance, according to the SE Campus music director.

   To that effect, Marion Nesvadba, assistant professor of music, has developed a choral program aimed at appealing to a wide audience with varied interests and needs.

   “The hype about music is true. I believe a higher number of students will enroll in choir next semester as a result of 9-11. Students who enroll often have participated in church or high school choirs,” he said.

   TCC courses include various genres of music, from contemporary jazz to pop music to traditional operatic movements.

   TCC Singers, also known as Jazz Singers, focuses on popular music and contemporary jazz. Usually, the group consists of six to ten people.

   Nesvadba said females generally have the highest attendance and participation in TCC Singers.

   Nesvadba said the instructor works with the students to achieve high appraisal in conducting pieces that blend culture with “beautiful harmonized chords.”

   In the Madrigals course, students perform pieces dating from the 14th to 16th centuries.

   Language differentiations, such as Spanish, French, German and Latin, will also add to variety, according to Nesvadba.

   Students performing in this course will wear peasantry and social class attire, Nesvadba said.

   “Costumes can entertain an audience and give support to the performance by adding visual humor,” he said.

   College Choir primarily focuses on traditional music, consisting mostly of traditional hymns of Christianity.

   Two of the more popular are Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s cantatas.

   Nesvadba said the various groups get an abundance of experience.

   “Students will perform on occasions for Christmas celebrations, Phi Theta Kappa inductions and the Veteran’s Day ceremony.

   Voice lesson instructors advise students on breathing correctly, projecting good sound quality and developing music memory quality.

   “Anyone can take the course as a hobby or vocation,” he said.

   In Opera Workshop, students are trained to sing and act.

   “Students will perform one opera a semester,” he said.

   This spring, Nesvadba plans on taking two choral groups—Madrigals and Jazz Singers—to Colorado.

   “It is not for certain, but the choir is inquiring about the cost for this occasion,” he said.

   Nesvadba said the choral department is open to all students, not just music majors.

   For more information on any of the choral programs, students can call 817-515-3718.