Lifting their Voices

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Mon, 24 May 2021 12:57:07 +0000

Lifting their Voices HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Mon, 05/24/2021 - 08:57

Chorale manages to come together despite pandemic restrictions

May 25, 2021

Heather Harris Michonski

For the greater part of the year, the ��ϲʹ�� Chorale was forced to rehearse online via Zoom, which wasn’t ideal, but at least allowed the group to participate.

As COVID-19 restrictions loosened during spring semester, the group was finally able to practice together outside. Those lucky enough to be passing by Boyden Hall may have heard them singing from the steps.

The first in-person meeting the chorale was able to hold was emotional for many.

“For me, it was the first time I had seen the students face-to-face,” said Dr. Sarah McQuarrie, music education professor. “It was almost like a pep rally, yet we couldn’t hug one another, but seeing each other, hearing that first sound…. I didn’t burst into tears but came pretty darn close.”

At the start of the pandemic, adjustments had to be made and this unfortunately meant clubs and activities were put on hold.

For the 30 students who participate in the ��ϲʹ�� Chorale, this disappointment was exacerbated when they were temporarily disbanded after word came that Chorale Director Steven Young was scheduled to go on sabbatical. Most of the participants assumed chorale wasn’t even going to happen.

That’s when McQuarrie and her husband, Dr. Ronald Sherwin, who teaches music at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, offered to step in and serve as temporary directors.

“I saw how students were really needing and wanting to sing and we didn’t want them to go an entire year without that social experience,” McQuarrie said.

Singing is a huge part of senior Kalvin Mota’s life and facing the possibility of not having that outlet was upsetting. Compounding things was the fact that the theatre arts major found himself living on campus alone this year, as his roommates opted not to move back on campus.

“In the beginning it was tough,” Kalvin said. “But I was so happy to live on campus and (through ��ϲʹ�� Chorale) got to meet other people who were so embracing and engaging. It really did help me make some good memories and new friends.”

At first the group met remotely and rehearsed through Zoom calls. There were struggles as working apart created a disconnect. At times it was hard to follow along, but all involved agree that it was better than not having chorale at all.

“I was worried because I thought, how will this go? But when it started, I was excited to work with new people,” said psychology major Victoria Sueiro, ’23.

This year’s ��ϲʹ�� Chorale music choices also reflected a message of peace and social justice.

“We wanted to find composers and arrangements that are underrepresented, women, composers of color, transgender composers…We wanted to find ways to help spread this message, to help push it,” McQuarrie said.

Knowing the significance of the musical selections made this year’s unique experience even better, Victoria said.

“In some small way it felt like we made some sort of difference and there was a purpose to what we were doing. The meaning of the music, and how we sound hits a lot different,” she said.

The group concluded the year with an April 30 concert on the steps of Boyden. While they still couldn’t perform for large groups because of COVID-19 restrictions, they did tape the performance for friends and peers to view.

“As musicians we are all about performance, but this semester it really became about the process,” McQuarrie said. “The students were so happy and grateful to be making music. We were all just so happy to be here, it had more meaning for all of us.”

Do you have a ��ϲʹ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

I saw how students were really needing and wanting to sing and we didn’t want them to go an entire year without that social experience.

Dr. Sarah McQuarrie, music education professor

Student Perspective

JFINKELSTEIN@bridgew.edu — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 15:14:38 +0000

Student Perspective JFINKELSTEIN@b… Thu, 06/25/2020 - 11:14

June 1, 2020

Nathaniel Rego, ’21

Story Series

Bridgewater Magazine

My name is Nathaniel Rego, and I am an individual with autism from Dartmouth. I have a great passion for writing, making videos and communications in general. I am majoring in mass communications. I have created written works, YouTube videos and podcasts throughout my life. Doing so builds my confidence and makes me feel a part of things.

Communication is very important to me because it enables me to interact with others. With the start of high school, I became fascinated with YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, just as I had with writing and creating podcasts.

Through my middle school years, I did not know how to communicate with new people I met. When I was introduced to YouTube by my parents, I began to make videos and connect with people who had channels and videos of their own. I commented on and liked some of their videos. I also was involved in online conversations with fellow YouTube users.

When I was at Bristol Community College, I had published some of my writing, including an article on the Titanic disaster and some film reviews. At the time, I was contributing to The Hawk, BCC’s student newspaper. Also, I hosted my first radio show at BCC, a program I called EW, for Entertainment Weekly. I felt very proud, as the show enabled me to reach out to an audience. It taught me about responsibility, because I learned how important it is to be upfront with my radio audience when discussing various topics. I also listened to podcasts, which helped further inspire me as a DJ.

The success of my radio show at BCC gave me the confidence to sign on to host my own show on WBIM, Bridgewater’s radio station. Not only does being on the air increasingly boost my confidence, it also allows me to interact with a campus-wide audience and feel that I’m more a part of the university.

My WBIM show is called The Review, and its theme is all things Disney. I’m on Fridays during the semester from 1 to 2 pm. I am a major Disney fan, and each week, prior to my show, I create an agenda, which includes my introduction, a selection of Disney songs to play, and news topics mainly concerning Disney theme parks and movies.

As an individual who has autism, I have difficulty with communication. However, the radio show has made it easier to reach out and connect with others. I’d like to assume I have an audience who listens to me every Friday, and I enjoy being part of the university. This experience helps me envision a future in the field of communications. What I have learned from being on the radio is that it allows you an opportunity to be heard.

That is precisely what I want in the future – to be heard.