On Sept. 25, the choir hosted its fall coffeehouse in the Main Commons, where students performed solos and provided snacks and refreshments to guests. Hours of student-led preparation went into this event, providing a relaxing atmosphere for guests to enjoy while experiencing live music from their own family or friends.
Even after only the first performance of this show, it was evident to the audience that these students felt a sense of passion while performing. Each solo reflected each singer’s uniqueness, as everyone sang in different styles and added their own personal flair to their performance. Sophomore Matt Nava Perez described how her love for music translated into her choice to audition.
“I chose to audition because I love performing,” Nava Perez said. “It’s kind of a passion of mine. I love being able to be up on stage in front of a crowd and see if my performance can give them a smile or a laugh.”
Choir directors Jake Taylor, Ph.D., and Klint Jordan both have had their own past with music and have used advice given to them to help bring encouragement to their students, which was especially helpful during a show such as a coffeehouse, which often requires so much vulnerability to audition for and perform.
“When I was in college, my voice teacher used to always say the only way to get over stage fright is to get on stage,” Taylor said. “I think for these students, everyone gets nervous when they perform, and the only way to get over that is just to get up, bite the bullet and go for it.”
While watching this performance, it was easy to get lost in the way these students brought their own charm into the show, making it feel more personal rather than professional and distant. However, it has taken time and effort to build up their stage presence, using years of confidence and practice. Being up on stage alone in front of a crowd can be intimidating, which made the performance of these students even more impressive.
“I think [solo performances] definitely improve your confidence, especially if you only have done group performances before, or have only sung in a choir,” sophomore Shriya Desikan said. “Solo performances help you gain confidence in yourself as a singer rather than just hiding out behind a bunch of other people.”
For some of these students, this show provided them with the opportunity to rehearse individually for the first time, giving them a sense of accomplishment in their efforts. The dedication they put into their practices made their performances feel more passion-filled and authentic.
“I enjoyed seeing all my practice come to fruition, [seeing] what I had planned inside my head happen out there on stage,” Nava Perez said.
After attending and experiencing the coffeehouse firsthand, one could see that each performance became not only a display of talent for these students, but also a display of their growth and hard work.
