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The COVID-19 global pandemic didn’t stop the University of Saskatchewan’s (U of S) Greystone Singers from marking the end of their academic year.
Traditionally, the Greystone Singers hold a year-end concert, but because of the restrictions set due to the pandemic, the group needed to get creative. They decided to produce a four-minute video of a unique performance of the song “Warrior.”
Dr. Jennifer Lang is a choral music education professor and is the director of the Greystone Singers. She said the idea was brought up to do a digital performance that incorporated a past performance in February.
She told 650 CKOM they originally had other ideas as to how they wanted the digital performance to be put together, but they re-adjusted when students submitted their videos singing.
“It was so powerful to see (their) individual voices, which (isn’t) something you always get to do or get to hear in a choir.”
They blended the new videos together, before moving to the November performance of “Warrior,” a song that Dr. Lang felt fit with the world we currently live in.
“When we combine together, and we join in community with one another, we’re even more powerful. I think it really highlighted that message.”
Dr. Lang said even though the video made the production seem easy, it took many hours of hard work by many parties to be put together.
“For the singer who originally started (the video performance), she said it took her a couple of hours and 15 to 20 attempts to try and get it (correct). So, I really appreciate the efforts that (singers) extended in showing how music is meaningful to them, and getting that message out to the community.”
Moving forward, Dr. Lang says about a quarter of the 2019-20 choir will not be returning next year. With many graduating, she hopes they can look back on the experience in a positive way.
“Their success is not determined by a two-hour concert that they give to their friends and their family. But, it’s about the learning process from the beginning up until whatever that end might be.”
