Singing in the Centennial Hall Music Room, members of the Notables, Glee Club, and Centennial singers heard the advice of Grammy-nominated Conductor Dr. James Jordan as he guest conducted Mozart’s Te Deum in preparation for the Spring Concert.
Singing a Mozart piece is not easy—but students improved while Dr. Jordan worked through it.
Dr. Jordan is here for the Michael Stairs Concert, according to Notables and Glee Club Director Mr. Donald Holdren. Mr. Holdren explained that Dr. Jordan is not only someone who will “interest the students,” but he is “one of the preeminent choral conductors of our time.”
“I wanted to bring in someone who had a different perspective on choral singing,” said Mr. Holdren. He said that in addition to being a phenomenal musician, Dr. Jordan is an accomplished teacher.
“One of the great things that I am constantly hearing about Michael Stairs was that he was a very accomplished musician, but he was also a master teacher,” Mr. Holdren said. “The relationship with his students was such an important part of who he was and what he did.”
At the start of the rehearsal, Mr. Holdren was nervous. “When you bring someone of that caliber in, you want to be super prepared.” Mr. Holdren didn’t want to waste his time. “We were able to get past the basics of notes and rhythms and really talk about expression and articulation”—qualities crucial to the production of the piece.
“If you learn to listen, you will have a good life,”
Dr James Jordan
Fourth Former Alex Scharpf said, “Te Deum has really improved and started to harden and really get in there.”
Scharpf was expecting that “Dr. Jordan… would do all these weird vocal exercises and whatnot to improve our technique.” Scharf said that “what he did was perfect.”
At the end of the rehearsal, Dr. Jordan explained how difficult of a world we live in. Often students worry about not being able to pursue their dream. Dr. Jordan said, “No one has the right to take your dream away from you.”
He also emphasized the importance of listening—something that singers in a choir are collectively learning how to do. “If you learn to listen, you will have a good life,” said Dr. Jordan.
The Michael Stairs Concert will be held in part with the Haverford Spring Concert on Wednesday, April 30th at 7:30 p.m. with Dr. Jordan conducting middle and upper school singers in the Te Deum.
