KU Chamber Singers head west for choral tour

LAWRENCE –The sounds of the University of Kansas School of Music’s Chamber Singers will waft west next week as they hit the road to share their voices with eight Kansas high schools during a three-day choral tour.

The 24-member Chamber Singers choir, directed by Paul Tucker, will visit the following high schools:

April 4 - Topeka High, El Dorado and Douglass

April 5 - Pratt, Dodge City and Cimarron

April 6 - Garden City and Quinter  

The KU Chamber Singers are a select, mixed ensemble of mostly juniors, seniors and graduate students studying music. They are the university’s main touring choir. While on tour, the Chamber Singers will give a performance for the students at each school and then spend about an hour working with high school choirs, listening to them rehearse and providing critiques.

“This is the time of year when high school choirs are preparing for competitions; so they are very eager for our help,” said Tucker, who is the KU director of choral activities.

The statewide tour is initiated and sponsored by longtime supporter of KU choral programs, Robert Daugherty, who fondly remembers KU Choirs performing at his high school in Meade more than 50 years ago.

“I had never heard such beautiful music. I didn’t know people could sing like that,” Daugherty said. “I want to bring these students the wonderful live music experience that I enjoyed years ago.”

Daugherty’s late wife, Sandra Keller-Daugherty, was a KU graduate and a valuable member of the KU choirs. Daugherty has his bachelor’s and medical degrees from KU. He and his daughter Allison Smithson will join the students on the tour.