Mars chorus gets guest lecture
ADAMS TWP — Mars choral students and faculty were singing the praises of a visiting professor on Tuesday.
Stephen Hodge, director of choral activities at the University of Toledo, stood in for chorus instructor Dane Skroupa, teaching the 230-student Mars High School chorus in six, one-period groups.
Hodge maintained an easy rapport with the teens, using humor and physical images to help the singers improve their craft.
"Just raise your eyebrows a little bit there to bring up the pitch," Hodge told the sopranos.
"There's a baby sleeping in the next room. Don't sing so loud that you'll wake the baby," he said to another section.
"Stand taller," Hodge told the altos. "Stretch out like you are being held up with puppet strings."
The professor, who used his own amazing range to demonstrate a soprano part, even gave a social studies lesson after instructing students to sing "Hello, I love you, goodbye" as a warm-up exercise.
"That is a phrase that was often used in the '60s," laughed Hodge.
A richer tone and more mature quality of choral singing could increasingly be noticed as Hodge's lesson progressed, which did not go unnoticed by Skroupa.
"It broadens their horizons," Skroupa said regarding the benefits of importing a choral professor such as Hodge.
Skroupa added that the visit also provided singers with a fresh outlook on and new insight into choral technique. He also said even if Hodge goes over familiar material, it illuminates the music for students with a fresh perspective.
Erin Beck, a Mars sophomore and serious choral student, said her peers recognize Hodge from the annual "Music in the Park" event at Cedar Point. There, the Mars chorus competes against those of other schools. Hodge has served as a judge for the event a number of times.
"I guess he thought we were pretty good and he wanted to come (teach at Mars,)" Beck said.
She said Hodge helped the chorus with pronunciation and tone quality, and that students benefited from his knowledge about everything choral.
"I'm excited he came in," Beck said.
Hodge, a Kansas native, has served as director of choral activities at the University of Toledo since 1989. He currently leads three choirs, one internationally acclaimed. He is director of the Toledo Opera Chorus, and has led several choirs across the country.
Hodge said he has long been impressed by Mars' vocal abilities.
"I first heard from Mars High School several years ago when I judged a music festival for Music in the Park," he said.
"I was quite impressed with the huge choirs that I heard and thought how wonderful it would be to work with them in a clinic situation where I could try to enhance even more what their director was emphasizing."
Hodge said when he judged the Music in the Park event in May, he was again impressed by Mars.
"It is rare to find choirs this big in number that produce such a fine tone," Hodge said, "and I really felt the students' enthusiasm for what they were doing."
