The IWU Chorale held their final public concert on April 11, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Gas City.
“Oftentimes, when we get back from a tour, students expect a couple days off of rehearsal, and that’s just not my style. I don’t roll that way,” Master Chinn said. “So we dove in, feet first, head first, whichever one is more terrifying. I don’t know. It depends on the pool. Probably, we dove into learning some new repertoire to add to our spring break repertoire list.”
For Spring break, the Chorale toured Southern California, where they sang at schools and churches. They also did some recording in Malibu.
“One of the challenges, which is a major upside challenge, is that many of the students involved in chorale were also involved in the musical,” Chinn said. “While we were coming back from spring break, mounting the musical and preparing for the intensity of that and we also simultaneously had our chorale structure going.”
Camden Hyman helped with the technical side for this spring’s musical, “Seussical The Musical”. Due to some of the Chorale being in the musical, Chinn had to cut back on rehearsal time so that people could get to musical rehearsal on time.
“I mean, they had to if they didn’t start at that time, then they would go until 11 p.m., and that’s not ideal for anybody,” Hyman said. “We go till six, and if anything, we go longer than six. But the past couple weeks, during dress rehearsal week and tech week, he let us out at 5:30 instead.”
Anastasia Hiatt has been involved with Chorale since her freshman year and has seen people balance Chorale and the musical.
“You’re using your voice constantly, and then into three-hour rehearsals at night where you’re trying to balance homework, social life, more singing and dancing. And so it’s a lot on your plate, but it’s very, very rewarding,” Hiatt said.
Another aspect of Chorale for this year was the number of freshmen who were in the group. Chorale started the year with 41 members, of which 14 were new to Chorale.
“(It) is very atypical to have more than 25% of the group be freshmen singers. So it’s, on one hand, really daunting, because you’re teaching a lot more people a new norm,” Chinn said. “And on the other hand, it’s really thrilling, because that gives me great hope for the development of the future.”
Hyman will be graduating in December 2025, and said he has enjoyed his time with Chorale and is disappointed that he won’t have a full year left with the group.
“‘Oh, it’s just a choir. I know what I’m getting myself into, and I know the relationships that come with it, but it’s just a life-changing experience,” Hyman said.
Hiatt will be graduating on April 26.
“Life-giving. It was that. I mean, that’s the best word that I can use to sum it up for me, life-giving throughout every year,” Hiatt said.
