UA News

The UA Faculty/Staff Choir will perform its spring concert this Friday.

When they're not squinting at a computer, lecturing in front a class or working in a lab, one group of University of Arizona employees is taking time out to "sing away" some of the stress of the daily grind.

Twice a week, members of the UA Faculty/Staff Choir leave their offices at lunchtime to practice choral music for performances on and off campus. Members represent a wide variety of departments and include faculty, staff, appointed personnel, graduate teaching assistants and retirees. They rehearse every Monday and Thursday at noon in the Music building.

The group's spring concert will take place Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 1200 N. Campbell Ave.    

With about 25 active members, the volunteer choir provides an outlet for any campus employee who just loves to sing, said Carl Olson, the group's president.

"Singing is just one of those activities that makes you feel good. It takes away the stress and anxiety. It's like they say: ‘Music soothes the beast,'" said Olson, associate curator for entomological research at the UA.

Olson, who calls himself "the bug man," has been a member of the choir for four years. A lifelong music lover, he sang in his high school chorus and college men's glee club and now sings with a church choir in addition to the employee group.

No musical experience or audition is required to participate in the Faculty/Staff Choir, making it a low-pressure environment for employees ranging from seasoned vocalists to novices who might not be able to read music.

"It's an eclectic group. There are people from all walks of life," Olson said, noting that it's a good venue for meeting new people.

Linda Ross, an administrative assistant in the Center for English as a Second Language, joined the choir three years ago for something fun to do outside the office and calls the choir environment "very welcoming."

Others joined the group as a way to reconnect with their passion for music.

"I really missed music," said Marlowe Daly-Galeano, a graduate teaching assistant in English, who sang and played violin in high school. "I love how open and relaxed it is. It's a great community and a fun break in the day."

Throughout the academic year, the choir performs at various venues on and off campus, with one major concert taking place each semester. Past performances have taken place in locations like the UA Mall, Student Union Memorial Center, University Medical Center, Tohono Chul Park, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and local retirement homes.

The group's spring semester concert will include about 10 pieces, Olson said, including Hungarian folk songs, an Israeli folk song, and songs in Italian and Japanese.  

The choir, which has been on campus for nearly two decades, is directed by Eiki Isomura, who completed his master's in orchestral conducting at the UA last year and chose the selections to be performed at the upcoming concert.

Membership in the choir is volunteer, but participants are asked to pay what they can toward an honorarium for the conductor and the cost of sheet music and a pianist to accompany the choir, Olson said.

While membership in the choir fluctuates, some singers opted out this year due to concerns over the University's ongoing reorganization process and budget struggles, choosing instead to spend lunchtime closer to the office, Olson said.

However, Olson noted that a creative outlet like singing can actually help relieve stress and make employees feel renewed and more productive when they return to work.  

"It's their time. If you're here and you're working you need to have a little bit of time to yourself to relax," he said.

Those interested in joining the choir can e-mail Olson at bugman@ag.arizona.edu. The group takes summers off but will begin rehearsals again in the fall semester.

If you'd like to book the choir for a performance, the group is always looking for venues, Olson said. Just e-mail Sharon Jones at sjones@as.arizona.edu.