Chills. Tears. Standing ovations.

These are but three of the reactions the audience might experience after the Sacramento State concert choir performs on Saturday. The choir performs its fall show “Choral Soundscapes” at 8 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church on 39th and J streets.

Don Kendrick, the conductor and director of choral activities at Sac State, has been preparing his students for the upcoming event since the start of the semester. The concert celebrates charity, love, hope and faith, he said.

“We’re doing music from different countries around the world,” Kendrick said. The group has recently been working on a Nigerian piece.

Sarah Thomas, a junior child development major who sings alto for the choir, said she is excited about the concert.

“We’ve been working really hard with Don,” she said. “He picks out some great music with us.”

Choral rehearsals are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. in Capistrano Hall. Practices double as classtime since it is a one- unit class.

However, for many of the students, it is much more than just a class.

Courtney Anderson, a vocal jazz major in her freshman year, said she continues to strengthen her voice with the help of choir because she wants to pursue a career in music.

“I want to make music that will touch people,” she said. “I want to make music like The Beatles.”

She sings first alto for the choir, which is the highest of the lower female voices.

Erica Wilens, a freshmen, wants to travel the world performing classical music.

“Music brings people together so dramatically,” she said. No matter what the language, communication is possible through music, she said.

Wilens, who is a vocal performance and French double major, sings first soprano, the highest of the women’s voices in an eight-part choir.

Thomas, who wants to become a teacher, said she wants to incorporate music into her classroom.

“That’s the wonderful thing about this group. You do not have to be a music major,” Kendrick said.

Although Anderson, Wilens and Thomas have different reasons for joining the choir, one thing they all have in common is how highly they think of Kendrick.

Anderson said she loves working under such a fantastic director because he’s “upbeat and excited about making music.”

During rehearsal on Oct. 30, Kendrick offered the class candy for remembering the lines of the newest piece. They couldn’t stop laughing as he picked students to complete lines and handed out Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to those who had the correct answers.

The students did not have time to feel bored or tired during the class because Kendrick had them standing and sitting, swaying and clapping.

A director-choir bond was evident when Kendrick said one or two words, hit a couple keys on his piano and everyone knew exactly where to begin in the song and who was expected to sing.

After the rehearsal, students stuck around to collect a piece of candy and to share a quick laugh with their professor.

The three students agree that he makes the class fun and keeps them laughing.

Not only does Kendrick make preparing for the show fun, he also ensures the performers feel confident and comfortable on stage, while looking professional.

He practices a method he referred to as stage deportment.

This includes teaching them how to enter and exit the stage, as well as the proper way to bow after a solo or group performance.

He said he warms up their voices before each concert, but also makes sure they have a quiet period to allow them to focus.

“It is sort of like the Olympics – in our case, the choral Olympics,” Kendrick said. “And it demands tremendous concentration and effort to put all the pieces together to make a beautiful and moving competition.”

Preparation also requires work outside of class.

Anderson said she frequently studies the music at home so she will have it memorized for class.

“Although we only rehearse together twice a week for an hour and 15 minutes each time,” she said, “each person usually puts in an extra five hours of their own time to practice.”

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students. For purchasing information visit

http://www.csus.edu/music/choral/concerts.htm

Tygenae Harris can be reached at [email protected]