12 student life the unsung heroes of spring sing With the lights dimmed and the curtain pulled, the expectant audience shuffled through the aisles and into seats as they flipped through their programs. Little did they know that a completely different world existed behind the scenes of Spring Sing. Props needed to be set up. Microphones needed checking. Lights needed to be cued. Craig Jones, the choral director for Harding Academy, was one of the people working behind the scenes, training the hosts, hostesses and ensemble to sing to the best of their ability. Jones helped with Spring Sing vocal training for the past five years. “It’s a joy to watch all of the areas come together to make a show, and the energy the college students bring is fantastic!” Jones said. Jones began the vocal rehearsal process of Spring Sing very early. The theme and potential song selections for the 2008 show were chosen before the 2007 performance. After being selected, the hosts and hostesses went on a weekend excursion to Branson, Mo., to see shows and come up with ideas that they could utilize in their performances. Actual vocal rehearsals began in early January before the March show and continued up to three times a week to prepare for the choreography. Jones trained the students with scales and pronunciation exercises. “I constantly reminded [the hosts and hostesses] of little tricks to help them remember words or notes or how we want a certain phrase sung and to put that together with the choreography so that every spot of the song ‘sells’,” Jones said. Event Specialist David Robison, another
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