June 2024: Oriana Singers "In High Voice"

Kathryn Hylton, R&R Chair for Upper Voice Choirs
Associate Director of Choral Activities, Penn State University
Conductor of Oriana Singers and Vocal Dimensions
 
The beauty of what we do as choir directors is that no matter where we are or what type of ensemble we conduct, there are opportunities to share the stage with other artists. There are such tremendous benefits to collaborating with other musicians, for conductors and ensemble members alike, from building community to broadening perspectives to learning new skills and honing existing ones. I would venture to say that many choral conductors have become familiar with, and seek out, such collaborations, especially those that we might call “like-ensemble” collaborations, in which singers are able to explore their voices and musical perceptions in a safe space with choristers of the same voice type, age, or level of singing experience. Penn State’s annual “In Low Voice” and “In High Voice” festivals (hosted by PSU’s Glee Club and Oriana Singers, respectively) are two such collaborations in which high school tenors/basses (in the fall) and sopranos/altos (in the spring) from across the state are invited to campus to rehearse and perform alongside their collegiate counterparts. “Contrasting-ensemble” collaborations are equally beneficial, and may stretch and expand singers in additional ways. Perhaps this looks like inviting a local children’s choir to workshop with your high school students, or bringing together instrumental and vocal ensembles within your district or community that don’t typically rehearse or perform together.
 
On a broader scale, partnerships with artists outside the musical sphere can provide unique opportunities for growth, creativity, and innovation. Teaming up with visual artists, dancers, poets, filmmakers, and other talented creators often inspires those involved to engage more deeply with both the process and the product. At Penn State, I aim for the ensembles I conduct to engage in at least one collaboration of this type per year. This spring, for example, Oriana Singers partnered with the School of Visual Arts for a concert entitled “Portraits and Landscapes,” in which students’ drawings, paintings, sculptures, and digital artwork were projected in the hall to enhance a program that explored the beauty and complexities of humankind and nature. This collaborative performance not only brought new audience members into our concert space, but it also gave the singers a new way to connect with the text and the artists a new dimension to explore within their work. We even learned that several of our singers were talented artists themselves! Similarly, in 2022, Oriana Singers teamed up with the Nittany Ballet, a local performing arts organization, for a performance of Vincent Persichetti’s Winter Cantata. Persichetti himself was a movement enthusiast and strongly supported the fusion of music and dance, and the text of the cantata was inspired by a collection of haiku given to the composer by his daughter, a dancer. This collaboration brought such joy to all the performers and greatly enhanced the audience’s experience.
 
There is so much to be gained from reaching out to fellow creators, building new relationships, and offering experiences that will make a lasting impact on both performers and audience members alike. Any and all types of collaborative efforts can help to build bridges, strengthen community ties, expand horizons, ignite curiosity and creativity, and enhance performances. There is no better time than the summer to explore how you might collaborate with other artists on your next project!
 
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If you are interested in participating or learning more about Penn State’s “In High Voice” and “In Low Voice” festivals, please email Dr. Kathryn Hylton at [email protected].

Photo credit: Mike Raneri

Photo credit: Mike Raneri

Photo credit: Mike Raneri