A multitude of artistic opportunities are available to students at UTM. The University Singers are among the opportunities.

University Singers’ Spring Concert will be at 3 p.m. Sun., April 24, in the Harriet Fulton Theater. This concert will feature the soloist abilities of the group as well as the abilities of the group as a whole.

The University Singers is a group of UTM students combined to showcase their talents in a variety of vocal concerts across West Tennessee.

These concerts range from musical works created in the 1400s to modern day music. The choir sings anything from pop to jazz to classical. The diversity of music rings from the vocalists. The University Singers have been on the UTM campus since the early 1960s and are the premiere choral ensemble of the Department of Music.

University Singers is not limited to music majors. It is open to all university students, with great or little vocal background. If a student is interested in getting involved in the program they should simply register for the class at the beginning of the fall or spring semester.

“When I came to UTM I had no formal voice training what so ever. I was nervous about joining but Dr. Simmons assured me that he would be willing to work with me and my schedule the best that he could,” said Sean Campbell, a sophomore Music Education major from Brighton.

The director of University Singers, Dr. Mark Simmons, said that after the students come into the class on the first day he listens to each person sing. He then places each student into the ensemble based on their vocal range.

“I hope to see an expansion in the numbers of participants in University Singers to around 75 in the fall,” said Simmons.

“We have room for growth and this choir is a great opportunity for students to get involved and show their talents,” said Simmons.

“University Singers is a fantastic opportunity to take your musicianship to the next level. The great part is that it doesn’t matter which level you are coming from or going to, you will improve regardless,” said Megan E. Beam, a junior Music major from Gadsden, Ala.

University Singers tours Jackson in the spring and fall semesters performing. In the fall semester the choir also performs in a “Dessert Evening.” This event is usually attended by those in the public who support the Music department. During this performance the vocalist perform lighter music with a variety of solos and other choral ensembles while desserts are served to the audience.

Dr. Simmons has set a few goals for the University Singers in the upcoming year. “We hope to continue to expand the program on campus and incoming freshman, elevate the exposure to the state and set the highest of artistic standards for the college and community,” said Simmons.

“This group works very hard at what they do and it really shows in their performances,” said Simmons.

“Many people may see being a part of this type of group as a stress reliever, but I see it as a passion vent.A lot of people walk around with all this passion and sometimes use it in offensive or controversial ways. University Singers is the perfect place to funnel all of that passion into something that is so amazing that it changes people’s lives,” said Beam.

For more information, call Mark Simmons at 881-7412 or at marks@utm.edu.