Published Sept. 27, 2018
“This is a university recruiting tour,” is how Dr. Deborah Chandler, Director of Choral
Activities, describes the Sept. 28-Oct.3, 11-performance tour the ULM Concert Choir
begins on Sunday.
Apparently, students who enjoy singing and music are interested in majors of all kinds.
Dr. Deborah Chandler will lead the ULM Concert Choir in 11
performances during a ULM recruitment tour.
Emerald McIntyre/ULM Photo Services.
“This is a 61-voice group, and all but about 20 are in majors other than music,” Chandler
said. “… (on these tours) we go and recruit for every department.”
It takes a team of professionals to orchestrate 11 concerts, and joining Chandler
will be Dr. Judy Bowers, Dr. Claire Vangelisti, Dr. Richard Seiler, Dr. Kenna Veronee
and Justin Havard.
This is Chandler’s 15th year at the University of Louisiana Monroe, and her 15th recruiting tour.
“After a performance at a school we break into groups. I tell the kids who are interested
in pharmacy to go over there, the ones interested in education over here, nursing
over there. The main thing is we say ULM is great, and wonderful and growing,” Chandler
said.
The ULM Concert Choir Home Concert is Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at First United
Methodist Church on Loop Road. The guest choir will be from West Ouachita High School
under the direction of Pam Givens.
While Chandler is in charge of the music and singing the praises of the university,
“A ULM recruiting team meets us everywhere we go,” she said.
The concerts include a variety of music, “but we always have a message,” according
to Chandler. This year it is suicide prevention. The main number is “Please stay,”
with the line “Don’t let your worst day be your last.” There’s a mix of pop, classical,
traditional choral music and a ccapella.
The recruiting via music seems to be working.
“We’ve gotten a lot of response from Destrehan and Hahnville (high schools). We’ve
gotten kids from Hinds Community College and Vicksburg High School,” she said.
“We get a lot of interest,” said Chandler. “We always get a lot of response. We used
to ask them if we could come and now we get invitations.”
The public has an invitation to hear the ULM Concert Choir at the Home Concert on
Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church on Loop Road. The guest
choir will be from West Ouachita High School under the direction of Pam Givens.
