Virginia Union University - Panther Yearbook (Richmond, VA)

Page 98 text:

,r,,,.....,.......,,..,-... ., 94 Music Educators National Conference 1- ANN if it ,H , Seated, left-right: Wallesa Coleman, Janice Thompson, Louella Peacock. Standing, left-right: Phillip Mclntyre fpresidentl, Warner Barnett, Jerry Richardson, Kenneth Richardson. fi The Music Educators National Conference is a collegiate membership which provides for student participa- tion in the activities of the organization. The purpose of student membership is as follows: to provide an opportunity for professional development for college students of music educationg To make it possible for students to further their education through participating in state, division, and national meetings of the organization and through on-campus activities of the chapterg To provide opportunities for students to become acquainted with leaders in the profession. The Gospel Choir L..-.,..,,,.4,,,,,M,g,Ak,,,,A,,a,A ,, ,,,, ,YH , ,H iw, , . i.-a-.4,.4. W W..-..--.A. at l

Page 97 text:

Chenner Smith, vice president of the S.G.A. iabovej does the traditional job of the president, that of escorting Miss Union during homecoming cere- monies. The S.G.A. tried desperately to get stu- dents and the community involved this year. One of the events they gave was the Christmas Party for some local and staff member's children, with Dr. James playing Santa foppositel. The Student Government Associa- tion is the chief student organization to which all students enrolled at Vir- ginia Union University belong. lt is also the least understood and least supported due to: ill misrepresenta- tion of its role by persons previously holding office therein. Q27 misinterpre- tation by students when they hear the word government The current S.G.A. administration, headed by dynamic Miss Barbara Jo Cofey, is making the honest attempts to reach the students and to bring them to realize the significance of organization. The S.G.A. consists of three sub- divisions: fll Student Council fcabinet officers and class representativesl Q2l General Assembly fentire student population of Unionj and Q31 Student Court qassociate justices from each class and a chief justice in addition to an arbitrarily chosen jury of studentsl. This organization is regulated by rules within a constitution drawn by and for students. Ultimate regulations governing their opinions and have them remember the purpose and role of the S.G.A. General Assembly. lt is within this Student Government Asso- ciation that true unity and spirit is cultivated. ff' f ' X C Y ' X The Student Court, is the arm of the S.G.A. which hears and decides questions of controversy. They also handle disciplinary problems. From left to right: Samuel Bailey, defense attorney, James Peterson, senior justice: Cheryl Anderson, secretary to the chief justiceg Nathaniel Brown, chief justiceq Luther Jennings, junior justiceg Anne Carr, Sophomore justice.

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The University Choir xx 2 . Q1 X i 5 1 2 te ,Q I imi The following comments were made by Mr. Edward R. Haymes of the Richmond Times Dispatch after the Choir's Annual Winter Concert, which was held on January 10, 1971. The Virginia Union University Choir gave its 11th annual Winter Concert at the Mosque yesterday afternoon, presenting an interesting and varied program under the di- rection of Odell Hobbs. The student accompanist, Philip Mclntyre, dis- tinguished himself as both organist and pianist. The program opened with three choruses from J. S. Bach's Magni- ficat. The singers did an excellent job of projecting the contrapuntal complexity of this music without losing the warmth of sound that characterized their singing all eve- ning. Their performance in the three choruses makes one wish that they would arrange to sing the entire work sometime. Three choruses by Alan Hovhan- ness followed. This American com- poser is very conscious of his Ar- menian descent, and one feels the oriental colors of Armenian music in the harmonies of most of his works. The choir handled this dif- ficult music expertly, and the organ- ist deserves special praise for his colorful registration. Fast and tricky rhythms domin- ated the setting of All the Earth Sing Unto the Lord by McLin. This did not keep the choir from getting every word across as they romped through the piece, making it sound easy. Spoken Chorus The next piece, entitled Recon- ciliation employed a long passage for spoken chorus. The device has rarely been employed as effectively as in this work. The last two works of the first half of the concert were more con- ventional, and obviously chosen to show off the capabilities of the chorus. This they did. lf there is anything at all negative that can be said about this portion of the con- cert, it is that the organ sometimes tended to override the singers, par- ticularly in the Bach choruses. The second half of the concert was devoted mainly to arrange- ments derived from the spiritual literature. The choir did not leave behind the precision and clear tone that had characterized the conven- tional works of the first half, but their special identification with the music was obvious. It is hard to single out high points here, but one of them would cer- tainly be Evelyn Thomas' haunting solo voice in Glory, Glory, Hallelu- jah. The atmosphere of the concert seemed to be that this was a special thing for Virginia Union University and its community, but the quality of musicianship displayed showed that this choir deserves the serious attention of the Richmond Musical community at large.