Auburn University Singers to celebrate 50 years with reunion weekend, concert on March 20
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Auburn University will reunite five decades of Auburn University Singers from March 18-20 for the 50th anniversary celebration of one of Auburn’s greatest traditions.
The Auburn University Singers is an internationally acclaimed show choir group made up of Auburn students from across majors that performs locally and around the world. Housed in the Department of Music in the College of Liberal Arts, Auburn University Singers boasts more than 1,000 alumni, who are invited back to campus from March 18-20 for the reunion celebration.
Dale Farmer was a founding student member of the Auburn University Singers who now serves as its conductor, in addition to teaching in the Department of Music. As Auburn University Singers has evolved, Farmer said the foundations of the group—an attitude of giving, incredible talent and the desire to strive for excellence–have not changed.
“The Auburn University Singers is truly one of Auburn's greatest traditions,” Farmer said. “Over the years it has become more than just a choir. It is a group of very talented college students who desire to be the best they can be when performing, not just for what they can get, but for what they can give. I believe the group realizes its success because of the heartfelt attitude of sharing the gift it has been given to make others' lives better.”
On Sunday, March 20, at 2 p.m. in the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center, more than 300 students and alumni of the Auburn University Singers will present Sing Joy!, featuring music and choreography from across the group’s 50-year history.
Professor Emeritus Thomas Smith founded the Auburn University Singers in 1972 to create a group of singers that presented choral entertainment, including staging and choreography.
From its humble beginnings, Smith has seen the Auburn University Singers tour the globe and become a treasured Auburn tradition for countless students and alumni. He said guests of the reunion performance will see that history of excellence come to life on stage.
“When you are 28 years old and full of energy and excitement, as I was when we began, one hardly thinks about 50 years down the road,” Smith said. “However, it was not too long in the journey that I knew we had something very special in the Auburn Singers. The guests who come on Sunday, March 20, can expect an afternoon of excellence in choral entertainment as well as being able to observe the spirit of unity and giving that has been a trademark of the Auburn Singers for these past 50 years.”
For more information, visit the Auburn University Singers 50th reunion website. To purchase tickets to the concert on Sunday, March 20, visit the Gogue Performing Arts Center website.
To support the Auburn University Singers, make your gift here.
Submitted by: Charlotte Tuggle