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University Singers, Chamber Choir, and Voices of Gold have the opportunity to sing in some of New York City’s most historic cathedrals and have the privilege of visiting the Sisters of Charity in New York. This trip not only presents incredible performance opportunities, but it will also allow the members to present their talent and help them grow as performers. The choirs are made up of students from all walks of life, and most of its students have not had the chance to perform beyond Ohio’s borders. New York is brimming with opportunities to broaden their horizons and spread their passion for music.

Who We Are

The Mount St. Joseph University Choirs aren’t just a group of singers, they are a family--a family brought together by music, strengthened by challenges, and united in purpose. groups have faced hardships, the biggest being the sudden passing of a choir member. The group has held onto each other in those horrible moments of grief.

A three-year choir member told me, “Something beautiful sprouted out of something so tragic and I would say it made us a different group. I would say it put us on a different intimate level to lose someone you stood next to. There’s a perseverance there.” The bond between its members helps the group’s voice shine.

Under the guidance of Kelsey DeMange, this safe space has kept students coming back to the group year after year, and their dedication has paid off. Rain Phoenix, a dedicated pillar of the choral program, said, “If you’re in the group, you’re there because you care about it, you love it, it’s a family. It’s not just a class to us. Kelsey developed a strong program that has a lot of returning faces.”

It is this bond, in addition to the talent embedded within these groups, that has allowed the choirs to tackle every genre and tricky arrangement presented to them, and in doing so proved the versatility and dedication of these singers, the most recent of these displays being the soulful Spirituals and Gospels concert, a stark contrast from the year’s previous MSJ Rocks concert.

Since DeMange’s arrival to the choral program, she has brought a passionate and enthusiastic vision for what the program could be. Evidently that attitude rubbed off on her students because not long into her teaching, a group of students voiced the idea of an a cappella group. This vision and passion led to the creation of Voices of Gold, who has left a lasting imprint on the choral program. In their first year, Voices of Gold was awarded third place and outstanding soloist at the 2023 ICCA Varsity Vocals Competition.

DeMange’s passion for her students is what led to the idea of a choir trip to New York. When asked what she wanted this trip to accomplish, DeMange told me, "The benefits of choir extend far beyond music; they cultivate essential skills that enhance academic performance and combined with our trip to New York, help shape well-rounded citizens ready to inspire and lead."

Even her students seem to agree with this purpose. I interviewed several choir members and asked them what they hoped to gain from a trip to New York.

Phoenix said that she is “excited to grow stronger relationships with members of the choir in a non-rehearsal setting. Plus, I’m excited to try the food!” That mindset of creating friendships and building connections was a common thread amongst the interviewees.

Louis Tallarigo, one of the few seniors in the group, told me, “I want to build on the community that we have already built the last couple years. Traveling with the group to New York is definitely something I’m excited for.”

Alyssa Meyer, a new addition to the group, said, “I’ve never been to New York, so I’m excited to see all the sights and build relationships with my choir mates. I walked into Singers on the first day and immediately felt like I was part of the group. I feel like everyone was very welcoming.”

Joining in, Sarah Haverbusch followed up with, “I want our choirs to grow, evolve, and for people to know who we are. We are sort of a new program here, so I want to let people know that we’re here! We’re talented!”

Another choir member finished with, “A lot of the choir members are not music majors; they’re doing other things, so people are here to just have fun. What I want to gain from this trip, with that in mind, is that level of bonding with people who are in the same boat as you.”

You can see the bond within this group, the passion for creating music with their friends clear in every word from them. All these students want to do is share their love of music with New York and have fun while doing it, creating memories that they can look back on with fondness.

Want to Help?

To make this trip possible, we’re reaching out to our community. Come to the New York themed concert on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m., in the Mater Dei Chapel. Stop by to hear the voices of your classmates and grab a snack afterwards. Proceeds from the concession stand will go directly to your choir students. If you’re looking for other ways to donate look HERE! Your support will help us share the message that music brings us all together.