Big plans in mind for Ottawa choir

The future plans of the Ottawa University choir is not just to solely recruit new faces, but implicate a mission to rebuild and restructure.

Jeff Anderson, choir director, says that the music department is in the process of rebuilding what was once a strong program. They plan on doing this by reestablishing the choral tradition.

"That's our mission right now," Anderson said.

Anderson also said the best way to do this is to create a sense of accountability with students and faculty and reestablish the university's connection with the American Baptist church.

In the meantime, it's recruiting and attracting new students to join choir.

"Coming from someone who was here before Dr. Anderson, his plan for rebuilding and reestablishing the OU choir has had a significant change," Megan Redden said. "Watching a choir of nine grow to thirty people and with this continuing plan I feel that the choir will grow exponentially and that it will be an established choir and key facet of OU."

"I think that if the choir is really good it's going to get bigger," Sammy Sala said.

Last year as Anderson's first year of reconstruction, the department took three one day trips to three different American Baptist churches close to Ottawa. This year they will be taking a three day trip with what will include evening performances in Paola and Manhattan.

There will also be informative appearances and performances at three high schools which are Chaparral, Hallstad, and Rockcreek high school.

"The purpose of the trip this year is to introduce to the choir about touring and representing the University. When we get off the bus everybody will be watching, just looking at us. They will get a feel of what we are about. When we step off the bus we are Ottawa University, the choir will represent Ottawa University, that's what were here to do and that's the purpose of the tour," Anderson said.

With all the planning and the new ideas for the OU choir Anderson ends by stating that next years plan is to extend trip length, maybe out of state so that the arm of OU reaches beyond the campus horizon.