By Deborah Hilcove
Imagine 129 friends—each with a different voice—high, low and in-between. Now imagine blending those voices, layering the tones into beautiful melody. This is the Tempe Community Chorus.
Directed by Cary Burns since 1998 and accompanied by pianist Mary Sievert, the organization enjoys a wide repertoire, ranging from contemporary to pop, from Civil War gospel music to Broadway classics, from toe-tapping classics to upbeat jazz.
It’s easy to understand why Burns has such a large chorus. Swaying and snapping his fingers, he is constantly in motion, alternately hushing the group, then encouraging “a big sound now. Excellent. Excellent. Awesome. A little more work, sopranos. Your gospel voices. Yes.”
Soprano Gwen Henson notes that Burns helps them understand the lyrics and choices made by the composers and arrangers. “It’s creating sound,” she says. “He’s the conductor and we are like the musical instruments of an orchestra—the trumpets, clarinets—you can hear each instrument in the voices.”
But it’s more than the music, soprano Cheri Shipp says. “I wanted to sing, and here, there are so many friends. We support each other. It’s fun.”
With voices swelling as they sing “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” the choir focuses on their director. “Softer now. But with purpose,” he says. “Beautiful voices. I could feel the story.”
Percussionist Ben Adams drums a beat and tenor soloist Lee Higginbotham sings. Burns nods to him. “Good. Good. I like how you improvised that run.”
Higginbotham says he and his father, Doug, joined TCC together. “This is great. It’s the first time I’ve sung in a choir with him. There’s so much friendship, joy here.”
In the tenor section, Ben Hyde, a music major in college, says, “I was always in choirs, but stopped for a while. I’m back now, because of Cary.” Tom Burns adds, “It’s great to sing for an audience, sharing with them. Such give and take.” Dominic Pochiro says he’s been singing since elementary school and has been with TCC for five years. “It’s fun. It fills my soul.”
Satisfying Burns with the Hanukkah melody, “Light the Candles of Freedom,” the choir practices a section of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” Burns says, “You’re 89 percent there. Again.” As the refrain of “King of Kings” echoes, he admonishes the group, “A good sound, but visually, I’d rather have the CD.” He mimes the choristers, who break out laughing, then Burns orders another attempt, encouraging, “Tall it up. Give me some stuff.”
Tenor John Burger, smiles and whispers, “When a director says, ‘One more time,’ it means at least three more.”
High sopranos start, bolstered by rich tones of the altos, tenors and basses. It seems everyone is moving, swaying, every fiber filled with rhythm, resonating with the joy of music. Burns is pleased. “Excellent. A+.” Pochiro smiles, wipes his brow. “Whew. I call that ‘the workout song.’”
Burns says, “It’s an incredible thing for a community of people from all walks of life to gather and create a wonderfully cohesive and musically powerful experience.” He adds, “We want to create a wonderful experience for our audience. I agree with Ella Fitzgerald who said, ‘The only thing better than singing is singing.’”
The holiday concert, “A Gift of Music,” will be held Sunday, December 20th, at the Mesa Arts Center. Information: www.tempecommunitychorus.org Contact the MAC box office, 480-644-6500 or www.mesaartscenter.com
