Belmont University Singers, the largest mixed choir on campus, performs a spring concert every year as the culmination of the year’s academic work. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s concert was cancelled. Disappointed but not to be thwarted, University Singers decided to collaborate on a ‘virtual choir’ performance. Their rendition of the Belmont University “Alma Mater” was shared on social media and will be played during the University’s virtual commencement ceremony on May 2.
Dr. Jane Warren, University Singers conductor, thought the Belmont “Alma Mater” would be the perfect song to bring the singers together in spirit in a time when they are physically separated. “An Alma Mater is something unique to every university and part of college traditions, nationwide. I hope it brings some joy to everyone at this challenging time,” she said. “It was a true labor of love for University Singers and Belmont, but I think the result was worth it.”
The group is a non-auditioned choir available to any student who enjoys singing with others. Freshmen vocal principals in the College of Music and Performing Arts make up the nucleus of the 100-voice ensemble, with the remainder of the membership coming from a variety of majors and class rank. Most recently, the group performed “I am Changed” by Will Todd on the 2019 “Christmas at Belmont” production that aired on PBS.
Each student sent a video of themselves singing their voice part. Haley Tidd, a soprano in the group and an audio engineering technology major, volunteered to undertake the enormous task of mixing the audio from each submission. Dr. Warren helped Tidd and her outstanding work to produce the final video product.
