Spring break means a lot of things to different students at Ohio University, from vacations, to trips home, and even plenty of good times to be had right in Athens. But for two student organizations, it means tour time. Both the Singing Men of Ohio (SMO) and the Ohio Women’s Ensemble (WE) spend time travelling across the country throughout Spring Break to perform for audiences and give a taste of Ohio University to the world outside of Athens. It’s a time for the groups to share the music they’ve worked on throughout the year, as well as bond with other members in the choirs.
Both SMO and WE are defined by a sense of camaraderie that drives the music they create. While many choirs pride themselves on friendships between members, SMO and WE function as student organizations as well as ensembles in the School of Music, and there are numerous social events throughout the year for members, as well as Bigs/Littles (similar to how many Greek organizations function).
“It’s more than just a singing group, it’s a family. You learn more than just music from it, you develop friendships.”
-Emily Wannamaker, a sophomore Alto II studying Music Education in her first year of Women’s Ensemble
Tour is an especially great time to form those friendships, as Women’s Ensemble plans to travel to Canton, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. The group will have free time to explore the city and visit monuments/museums, which provides a great opportunity especially for members who haven’t traveled to those cities before.
The Singing Men of Ohio have a longer tour, lasting the entirety of spring break, and including the cities of Blacksburg, Atlanta, New Orleans, Nashville, Lexington, and Dayton.
Sophomore Music Education major Paul Rieck, who sings Tenor I in SMO, expressed excitement to see family members who live far away, as well as perform for new audiences and spend time with fellow members.
“It’s amazing to see how audiences take our musical expression and feel our passion for what we do.”
-Sophomore Music Education major Paul Rieck
Both SMO and Women’s Ensemble are driven by the sense of community among members that is supported in the music. In describing the Singing Men of Ohio, Rieck says:
“We are a bunch of guys who really try to make the spirit of brotherhood a motto for our daily lives and within SMO in general.”
It’s clear that the unity created in these groups extends far beyond the music created, and into the personal lives of members. There are tight-knit bonds between members and that makes the friendships stronger, and the music more harmonious.
“This is my first year being in women’s ensemble, and it’s been a blast. I’m going to be sad when I have to leave.”
-Wannamaker
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