BC Choir is Bigger and Better
   by Katie Rowell

Returning members of the Blackburn College Choir may think that rehearsals are a little more crowded than in years past. This year, the choir has grown from 20 members to 30 members.

Alumna Sandy Aper, who is joining the choir for Handel’s Messiah and has sung with the alumni Homecoming Choir for the past three years, provided interesting insight on how the choir has changed since she was a member from 1975-1977. While the size of the choir has not changed greatly since she was a member, there is one difference between the choir then and now.

When Sandy was a student, the choir performed monthly Sunday morning chapel services in Clegg Chapel. She also noted that she is, "Amazed at how efficiently Dr. Zobel uses the fifty minutes of choir rehearsal and still manages to make it fun. She knows some great 'tricks of the trade' and the students have been very friendly and welcoming."

Mike Dunn, a freshman bass, who attended East Alton Wood River High School, participated in his church’s choir for three years and was a member of his high school choir for a year, before he joined Blackburn choir. When asked how the Blackburn Choir was different from high school choir, he said, “Blackburn Choir is smaller than the one at East Alton, which had about 120 students in the entire choir program.”

Another new face in choir is Jeff Hiemebaugh, a junior tenor. While he has no previous choral experience, he has been a trombone player in band since fifth grade. His comments about being in choir were, “I believe that tenors are the best section, but the men’s section as a whole has potential. All we need is confidence.”

While there are a fair number of new faces in choir, there are still quite a few familiar ones. Laura Beanblossom, a soprano and sophomore, has returned for a second year of singing in the Blackburn Choir. Her prior musical experiences include three years in her high school choir, two years of jazz choir, the senior choir, singing in her church choir, plus nine years of playing the flute in band. Laura says that she “likes the fact that there are almost twice the number of guys in choir this year (compared to last).”

Another returning member is sophomore soprano Amy Hawk. Amy is also a member of Blackburn Voices, the school’s chamber ensemble. Prior to Blackburn, Amy sang in her high school’s choir and jazz choir, both her church’s youth and chancel choirs and in the Billy Graham Choir. She has also spent eight years playing the French horn in band. When asked about how the choir is different from last year, Amy noted, “This year the choir isn’t as close as it was last year. People seem to have their own separate groups this year, where as last year we seemed like one big family.”

Bonnie Burcham, a junior and soprano, is also no stranger to choir. This is her third year in the choir and as a member of Blackburn Voices. In high school, Bonnie was active in her school’s chamber choir for four years. She also spent three years in jazz choir, and one year in women’s choir. When asked about the choir this year, Bonnie said, “There is lots of room for growth and I’m excited to see what the choir sounds like by Christmas.”