Southern Nazarene University’s Singers are back for another year of music and community! This year’s ensemble brings a batch of fresh faces and returning stars, all harmonizing to create something truly special.
Though they are not new to campus, Elizabeth Howard and Nick Gonzalez are both new faces to this year’s U-Singers ensemble. For Howard, this experience brings a fresh challenge. “Dr. Graves really got me excited about auditioning for the group. I hope to gain more knowledge on how to sing jazz music and how to blend with a smaller group of people,” she shared.
Gonzalez expressed similar enthusiasm, though his path to the group has been more of a journey. After auditioning last year and not being selected, he used the experience as motivation. “Not getting into the ensemble last year was like a wake-up call. I had not been familiar with jazz apart from the audition, so I signed up for lessons and fell in love with it as a whole. It motivated me to prepare for this year’s audition,” he stated.
Both singers noted that rehearsals are going well, describing the group as both productive and enjoyable. They hope their performances this year will create a lively, engaging atmosphere that shares their passion for music and honoring God. Howard emphasized her belief in music’s ability to communicate across emotions: “Through sadness and happiness, God is in it all and people need to see that,” she says.
Long-time member, Jacob Mash, is excited for the camaraderie and opportunity to deepen connections within the group. As rehearsals progress, he believes the ensemble will become a “well-oiled machine of jazz” by the spring semester.
As a senior, Mash is striving to step up as a leader–supporting his peers musically while also serving as a peacemaker within the group. Balancing his many commitments alongside involvement in multiple ensembles is not always easy, but for him, the reward outweighs the challenge. “The biggest reward of being in U-Singers is performing fun music with friends,” he said. Looking ahead, his goals include giving every performance his all, finishing his academic career strong, and resisting the pull of senioritis.
U-Singers are tuning up for what promises to be a memorable season. With a mix of eager newcomers and seasoned voices, the ensemble is preparing performances that will not only entertain but also inspire. More than just singing songs, U-Singers are creating meaningful moments and lasting memories–one note at a time.
Photo by: Brisa Lopez