Choral singing may be coming back “in” after one performer at the University of Northern Iowa encouraged the music department to incorporate more.

The UNI School of Music hosted “The Big Sing” featuring works of choral composer, arranger and conductor, Alice Parker, who also attended the event Tuesday. 

At 7:15 p.m., the doors opened into the Great Hall at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. Choir enthusiasts of all ages filed into the free event and sat wherever they pleased. At the doors attendees were handed program that highlighted the evening’s events. They also received a “sing along” packet of music selections that would later be led by Parker herself. 

Jacob Kline, freshman deciding major and Men’s Glee Club member said the performance was unique because “Alice Parker has a lot of experience with songwriting and singing.” 

Kline also said that Parker is pushing to bring back the traditional choral singing that she finds so important. 

The UNI Singers started off the event with songs arranged by Parker. The songs varied from a quiet melody of “Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal” to the upbeat and rhythmic “I Got a Key.” 

After the UNI Singers filed off the stage, accompanied by complimentary remarks by Parker, the Women’s Chorus took the stage with two songs from the suite “Incantations” by Parker. Their voices flooded the great hall with whimsical sound of the characters of “Incantations.” 

Without the need of much introduction, as Parker put it, the Varsity Men’s Glee Club, led by John Wiles, hit the stage with songs also arranged by Parker. Their robust voices boomed throughout the space to the songs of  “Avenging and Bright” and “Whup! Jamboree.” The songs that the Men’s Glee Club performed were rich with Irish heritage and traditional melodies. 

Jeannie Brislawn, grandmother of one of the performers, said, “the whole thing was wonderful.” 

The final UNI performers for the night, Concert Choral, started their segment with a brief story about their tour abroad to the European country Estonia that took place this past winter vacation. This story was appropriately followed by the Estonian national anthem, a story of victory and pride.  

Concert Choral ended their segment by inviting the audience to sing the “UNI Alma Mater.”

Following the short intermission, Parker took the stage for the “big sing” part of the event. Attendees pulled out their sing along packets. Parker led the audience in singing songs such as “Oh, Shenandoah,” the quiet lullaby “Bye’m Bye,” and a few spirituals. 

With each song, Parker taught the audience something about music, bringing up that music is something that needs to be shared and enjoyed by all, which is why, she said, she was having the audience sing. Parker tweaked the music so that what the audience sang wasn’t necessarily what was on the page. 

Parker enjoyed UNI “to the hilt,” as she said. 

“I enjoyed the lovely singing, the open people and the wonderful teaching going on,” Parker said after the concert. 

Parker said she adored the huge interest in music that the students of UNI showed at the performance. She particularly enjoyed working with the students and “the process of music making.” 

“I almost like rehearsing better than the performance, usually, but the performances tonight were just great. They kept blooming,” Parker said.