University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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These students, through many hours of practice, polished and honed their skills to perfection. Their public ap- pearances helped members to increase their confidence and sophistication. Group cohesion, hard ' V ' i ; and shar- ing helped this group t, -xpress the black experience through MUIJ; and contribute to a higher quality , -: utltnt life at the University. The closeness of the members help to make I IIIHTVISIOHS one of the best choirs around. - Photo by Ken Riddick It is necessary for an attentive singer to watch the director closely if the voices are to stay in unison. Photo by Ken Riddick ispiration for performance is obviously not a problem for Innervisions of Blackness ' piano player ster Baldwin. Rehearsals were held at the second floor Jester Lounge West in preparation for the ; concert April 14 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Photo by Ken Riddick The tambourine is used to keep the singers with the beat of the music as Kimberly Kossie demonstrates. Photo by Ken Riddick Innervisions of Blackness 297

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INNERVISIONS OF BLACKNESS Choir presents original ideas by DIANA WOLFE Beginning as an informal group singing around the piano in Kin- solving dormitory, Innervisions of Blackness blossomed into a dynamic and enthusiastic student gospel choir. Their membership was still on the rise in 1984. They increased from 50 members to about 80. To join, members only needed a love for gospel music. Innervisions had strong student leadership. Their directors, singers and musicians were students. They made a practice of rotating lead singers to give everyone in the group a chance. This year one of Innervisions ' most important projects was composing com- pletely original music for their spring concert on April 14 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Innervisions was an opportunity for students to develop and share their music. It emphasized both spiritual and personal growth. You could tell that we were a very supportive group; when one of our lead singers performed, the group clapped and cheered them on, said Diana McGruder, president. Innervisions is composed of nearly eighty members. The group contributes a lot of talent through original music scores. Photo by Ken Riddick FIRST ROW: Chester Douglass Baldwin, Kyne Gulley, Gary T. Kelly. SECOND ROW: James Edward Webb, Ray Clayton Woods, Mark Vin- cent Williams, Diana Yvonne McGruder. THIRD ROW: Monica L. Johnson, Beverly A. Henry, Karen Lynn Armstead, Kimberly Gale Lee. FOURTH ROW: Dawna Wilson, Lisa M. Wad- dell, Pamela Lynnette Woodard, Tracy Denise Reed, Juanita Jackson. FIFTH ROW: Kimberly R. Kossie, Tonya Maria Cunningham, Cynthia Johnson, Laquetta Denell Phillips. SIXTH ROW: Regina Nay Drean Hill, Natalie Maria Wilkinson, April Lavonda Smith. SEVENTH ROW: Monthra Rochelle Davis, Rosalyn L. Alexander, Rhonda Michelle Taylor, Rosalyn Marie Shaw. EIGHTH ROW: Paula LaGail Gary, Tammy Olivia Hardge, Robin Barton, Elfreda Renee Sells. NINTH ROW: Felecia Dawn Gipson, Vickie Lynn Nelson, Denise Marie Dunkins, Vanessa Gayle Jefferson. TENTH ROW: Candace Denise Stroud, Nina Renee Nelms, Yolandra Laverne Shaw, Constance Aileen McKinsey. ELEVENTH ROW: Sonja Patrice Pace, Delynn Walker, Jolanda Patrice Barry, Cynthia Marie Crawford. TWELFTH ROW: Hallie Myra Burrell, Theodora Lanell Moten, Lorenita L. Lucas, Artherene Delois Allen, Letisha Ann Wilson, Cynthia Denise Cash. Photo by Robert Cohen ! .c 296 Innervisions of Blackness

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LONGHORN SINGERS ' Note-ables ' show talent by DEBBIE YORK With members from every college of the University, the Longhorn Singers was a choir of approximately 80 members including only six music ma- jors. Although being in the Longhorn Singers involved a great deal of hard work and dedication, the singers in the largest all-campus choir were interested in the enjoyment and pleasure they gained from performing. At their Spring Cabaret Show in 1985, the Longhorn Singers created a Hal- loween atmosphere by wearing the costumes from the different acts to seat the audience. These acts ranged from a gospel duet on guitar to a jazzy group number. The singers added two group numbers to close the show. The choir worked almost nonstop preparing for their fall and spring shows which involved mainly ensembles and duets. They also performed in and around Dallas during the weekend of the Texas-Oklahoma football game and sang concerts to raise funds for a spring tour of the Southeastern United States. This tour stopped in New Orleans, Alabama and Florida. Scott DeFife, Ken Knowles, Mitt Dawson and Doug Middlebrooks offer A Salute To College Days during a reunion scene at the spring show. Photo by Marci Doane Serenading Beth Hess, Craig Boudreaux spouts You ' re The Top during the Spring Cabaret show. Photo by Stephen Reed The jitterbug is revived by Craig Boudreaux and Beth Ferrin during a soda-shop scene, At The | Hop. Photo by Marci Doane 298 Longhorn Singers