Student Life

Sage Hill Singers Reformed

Maddi Bukaty, Senior Editor|September 30, 2013

Sage Hill Singers junior Natalie Lowenstein, sophomore Claire Dwyer, senior Sydney Endicott, senior Lauren Anderson, junior Rachana Pillai and senior Kimaya Gokhale rehearse during lunch. September 30 2013. Photographer: Maddi Bukaty

It has become increasingly selective to get into Sage Hill Singers, an elite 17-person choral ensemble. Consequently, Director Megan Eddy’s job has become increasingly difficult.

When listening to auditions, Eddy says, “I’m just looking for that moment when the tone pops…the heavens open up and you’re like, ‘There it is.’ You get goosebumps.”

In comparison with last year, the group has changed significantly with the loss of nine seniors.

According to senior Sydney Endicott, whose two fellow altos graduated last year, “It’s been hard not having my other section-mates because we were not only great friends but also knew each other’s voices really well.”

Senior Lauren Anderson, who has been in Sage Hill Singers since her sophomore year, has been able to see the group change over these years.

“It’s been really interesting to contrast the different group dynamics and to see how people interact to create music,” Anderson says.

Sage Hill Singers senior Keivon Akbari, senior Brett Dunlavey, junior Natalie Lowenstein and senior Sydney Endicott rehearse during lunch. September 30 2013. Photographer: Maddi Bukaty

Every year, Eddy maintains the same standards for potential Sage Hill Singers. She looks for sight-reading skills, supported breathing techniques and musical phrase-shaping ability.

Among the 17 who made the cut this year, notable new members are sophomores Claire Dwyer, Yilan Dai, Jacob Fish and Matthew Aghaian.

Dwyer says that being a sophomore in such an advanced ensemble is “a good learning experience and it’s nice to learn from older singers.”

“It was definitely nerve-wracking, and I’m surprised to have gotten in,” sophomore Jacob Fish says, “being around more experienced guys gives me something to strive for.”

Eddy tries to work around the busy schedules of each member to create the most practical rehearsal schedule, but laments, “It’s impossible.”

The best she can do normally gravitates toward lunchtime rehearsals. Although many of the members do have other lunchtime commitments, they are still able to meet as a group twice a week and as separate boys and girls sections once a week.

“We give up time because we love the choral art. We give up some lunches when we could just be outside hanging out,” Eddy says, “We give up time because we enjoy each other and we enjoy what we’re doing.”