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By Matthew H. Smith, Entertainment Editor, Logos Student Newspaper

NIACC Singers

Seeing the NIACC Singers rehearse for their upcoming program Quodlibet is like watching the stars align themselves in the universe for the first time. 

At first, there’s chaos.  Students are frantically running around. Little sputters of warm-up vocals can be heard sporadically throughout the rehearsal room. 

Effervescent enthusiasm and the loud chatter of young people conversing back and forth resonate off these walls, threatening to explode like a supernova.
Someone taps the key of a piano, signaling a note.  Everyone quickly comes to attention.

It’s time. 

According to choral director Jayson Ryner, the term quodlibet traditionally means “anything goes.”  It also can mean a series of songs sung either simultaneously or continuously. 

“We chose continuously because if we sang the songs simultaneously, the show would be way too short,” Ryner said with a chuckle. 

This theme for Quodlibet 2008 is Rock of Ages, where the NIACC Singers and Concert Choir will perform pop rock music throughout history, including familiar hits from such artists as Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Ryner said Quodlibet is designed to be part of a curriculum for his students during the spring semester. Students study the aesthetics of how to put on a performance. All of this is based around the ideals of contemporary popular music, which Ryner said should be relatively exciting come time for the big show.

“It’s really important to me,” Singers member and NIACC freshman Alycia Brunsvold said about Quodlibet. “Coming in as a freshman, it’s a really big deal…because we want everyone to know that we work hard and it’s worth our time and it’s fun.”

Another NIACC freshman and Singers participant, Ryan Hoskins, has also expressed his enthusiasm about the production.

“It’s something I’m really looking forward to,” Hoskins said. “We’ve put a lot of hard work into it and now we’re actually getting to go out there and put on a good show for everybody. It’s something that the audience will really enjoy and can relate to.”

Ryner said he is looking forward to the show and the time when the Singers take the stage in front of their audiences.

“It’s college students doing fun music,” Ryner said.  “It should be fun for all the NIACC students to come and see all their colleagues or their contemporaries up on stage performing.”

Back in the rehearsal room, everything is silent for the split second before rehearsal begins. Another note plays on the piano, setting everything else into motion.

A member of the NIACC Singers gracefully steps forward, taking his place in the universe. He opens his mouth and a blast of sound comes out, illuminating the empty space of the room with its quiet strength as a star is born. 

Quodlibet, Rock of Ages, will be showing in the North Iowa Community Auditorium on Thursday, April 17, Friday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, April 20, at 4 p.m.  Admission is $7 per adult and $4 per students and tickets can be purchased at either Hy-Vee Location or by calling 422-4188.

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