Trinity University’s Chamber Singers and Choir capped off their musical year with their spring concert, “My Footprint on the World,” on April 25. Dozens of students involved in the concert showcased 12 different pieces between the two groups. Following a year filled with numerous trips and events for the music department, this concert acts as the first of many final send-off performances for seniors within these groups.

For students like Colin Lekki, senior choral music education major, this performance was the culmination of his time at Trinity. As a part of the music department for four years now, he has seen firsthand the planning of events like these in his time here. With this final performance with the Chamber Singers, Lekki detailed the meaning of the title of the show.

“We have a lot of different themes that’s kind of connecting on an impact that we can make on the world,” Lekki said. “There’s some songs that are about war, there are songs that are about love. But what we really wanted to do and encapsulate in this program is really getting people to think about our place in the world and using our music to kind of inform some responses around that theme.”

In his role as choir assistant, Lekki had a direct hand in “Sicut Cervus,” one of the pieces played at the concert. Every musical education major gets the opportunity to fully teach and conduct one piece of music at their spring concert with a hands-off approach from the department. Lekki was one of two individuals who took on this responsibility this year, along with Avery Hartung, senior music education and vocal performance major.

Both the Chamber Singers and Trinity Choir enable students to come together and create art through a musical medium. Gary Seighmen serves as the conductor for both ensembles. Taking charge of much of the direction for these programs, Seighmen utilizes multiple avenues of expression for the music at these events.

“I think music is really a powerful way for [students] to connect,” Seighman said. “We can make a big impact, especially if it was music. Sometimes … you’re talking about social change, or we’ve done lots of projects with people turn to social justice projects over the years. So it’s not just, you know, just presenting music, but actually having a way that can influence and affect people.”

The chamber singers in particular have had significant reach in the past years, with this year being no exception. From their Carnegie Hall performance in June 2022 to their more recent tour of different venues in the Dallas and Austin area, the group has continued to live up to their reputation.

It is this prestige and avenue for creative expression that drew in students like Jose Aguirre, first-year intended business finance major. The music department supported Aguirre continuing on with his music education after being involved in ensembles throughout his life. With the vocal timbre that these students come together to make, Aguirre has enjoyed working with them thus far.

“I definitely see myself in chambers all four years,” Aguirre said. “It is a huge time commitment, but other than that, we’re a group of individuals who can make saucy music. I go where the sauce is, to be honest. I’m just trying to contribute to a better quality sound, wherever that is.”

The music department has the resources to support more specific and unique avenues that a general music program may not be able to cover. For someone like Lekki, that is more than enough to make his past four years worth it.

“I love choral singing,” Lekki said. “It’s something that’s been a huge part of my life for almost as long as I can remember. And so it’s played a huge role in my Trinity life because it’s something that has always just been a focus for me.”