The Holy Cross Choirs took to the road for the second time, touring the great state of Alabama. We joined with my brother's Birmingham-based choir to present a series of concerts including Poulenc's "Gloria" with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, and southern spirituals.
None of the repertoire was simple, and the combination required some vocal adjustments, but they took to the challenge like champs and presented three impressive concerts. What struck me the most was the sense of immediate community that developed between our two groups. Even during a fairly intensive schedule, the singers bonded.
I found much of my instruction focusing on the unifying elements that voice science has to offer. Choosing among simple sensory motor alignments and emotional motivational tools, I found that even with singers who don't all speak vocologyese, we made some immediate and lasting adjustments that helped to create a sense of connection and community.