On Feb. 25, Master Singers performed their 26th annual Maroon and Gray Concert. Unlike typical choir concerts, the Maroon and Gray Concert gives two students the chance to select, rehearse and perform a concert led entirely by them. This year, Genavieve Clayton conducted the Maroon choir and Luca Snyder conducted the Gray choir.
Clayton and Snyder were selected through an audition process. All interested students are permitted to audition, and there were six candidates this year. The process begins with conducting lessons from the choir director. After that, each candidate prepares a piece to audition in front of the choir. Choir members then receive a ballot and vote for their top three choices.
The Maroon and Gray choirs performed three pieces each. Both choirs began with a performance of “Calme des nuits” by Camille Saint-Saëns, followed by two songs of the conductor’s choice. Clayton chose “Witness” arranged by Jack Halloran and “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim, arranged by Darmon Meader, while Snyder picked “Quem vidistis pastores dicite” by Francis Poulenc and “Ride the Chariot” arranged by Moses Hogan.
The most unique aspect of the concert was the dynamic between student conductor and student choir. “Anytime you, as a high schooler, as a student, is asked to direct or organize a group of your peers, there can be that barrier of ‘we’re the same age, what’s going on?’ But luckily I had a choir of people who are very loving and very supportive and that was not as scary as I was anticipating,” Clayton said.
Snyder agreed, mentioning the lack of age difference as difficult yet rewarding.
“I am a peer working with these peers, so it’s weird to be the same age as the people you’re telling to do things. As we went through the process, I just had to grapple with the fact that I have to show respect to these people, but I also need them to do things for me. And it’s a very challenging thing and I think it really stretched me in a positive way,” Snyder said.
Members of the choir enjoyed the change despite its differences from traditional conducting. Gray Choir member Chloe Klinger explained what she found interesting about the process. “The students are more learning along with me than the teachers. And it’s a different style of singing whenever they’re with you and they’re one of your peers,” Klinger said.
Maroon Choir member Lauren Krentzman believes that being conducted by a peer proved beneficial. “I felt like it was definitely a little easier to talk to Genavieve and she loved to ask for our feedback,” Krentzman said. “It was a really great experience.”
A variety of skills were learned throughout the preparation process. “I would say the biggest thing I learned is that in the end, it’s about the sound that you get. So it doesn’t really matter what’s on the paper, but if you’re able to pull out of that paper and pull out of people’s voices what you want to hear and what a composer was thinking and wanted to be heard, then that’s really what matters,” Snyder said. “You can see something on the page, and it can be really complex and particular about dynamics and specific rests and releases, but what matters in the end is putting actual focus into the art aspect and the fact that that is an expression of art.”
The concert serves as a way to allow students to learn more about rehearsing and conducting but also gives the audience a look into what truly goes into choral performance. It also featured an adjudication portion. Guest Clinicians Dr. Christopher Kiver and Mr. Robert Drayfall offered feedback through an onstage work session. This proved to be informative for conductors, choir members, and the audience.
“I thought it was definitely very interesting to get to work with different adjudicators than I had before, and I thought they were insightful and they had good commentary, good feedback,” Krentzman said.
Overall, the experience offers what may be a glimpse into future aspirations for the student conductors. Maroon choir member Jackie Eveleth noted how it can help students. “I think it is a really obviously beneficial opportunity because not very many schools do this sort of thing. And because ours does, students who take up those opportunities have a better idea of how their future is going to look and what they want to do,” Eveleth said.
Both conductors regard the opportunity as an incredibly special one.
“I feel really, really lucky. I feel so lucky that I even have the opportunity in the first place to do this. And then I feel really lucky that I had a group of people and a group of friends that was so supportive of me and loving and really just was there to help me through that,” Clayton said.
Snyder expressed his gratitude as well. “I would say that it is one of the highlights of my high school experience. It’s been really great, especially just based on the humans that were in my group. It was just a really fun time. We had a great time together. And I would also say that I feel very honored to take it on because there are so many people in this choir that could do a great job conducting, and I’m very lucky to have gotten to do it,” Snyder said.
The Maroon and Gray Concert will make a return in following years due to its continued success as a hands-on learning experience.
