STUDENT LIFE I INTERNATIONAL I SOCIALCLUBS I ACADEMICS I PEOPLE I LEADERSHIP I ATHLETICS I ORGANIZATIONS FAMILIAR FACE /) Canto RETURNS TO Belle After a three-year hiatus, women's choral group director, Dr. Susan Shirel, returned to the organization. After a three-year academic leave spent earning her doctoral degree from Ball StateUniversity in Muncie, Indiana, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Belle Canto Women's Chorus Dr. SusanShirel returned to Harding University. While Shirelserved many roles on campus in th e music department and with SpringSing, a major part of Shirel's job was directing the all-female ensemble group, Belle Canto. When Shirelcame to teach at Harding, there was a large number of female students who were interested in being a part of either concert choir or chorus. The number was solarge that it was often hard to find a place for all of them, which was why it felt natural to start Belle Canto with Shirela the director. SeniorMorgan Pruitt was the only student left in the ensemble who was caught under Shirelbefore she took her academic leave. Shejoined the group as a freshman in fall 2013. Pruitt said that shewas excited for Shirel'sreturn to the group and enjoyed watching the new members learn things from Shirel that she learned as a freshman. "She's reaching us things that we can use in other aspects of our life," Pruitt said. "Just like how working on one specific section of a song, yes, it's draining, and yes, it's obnoxious sometimes, but it's like, shelike, flipped that, and she is reaching us to be consistant in your practice." The other members of the ensemble were new to Shirel's teaching style. SophomoreCarley Keller said that shewas nervous about Shirel'sreturn at first but quickly learned that Shirebl rought something special to the group. "She's a very joyous person," Keller said. "She does all these fun warm-ups and [gets] us laughing, and so, it's just enjoyable. That's definitely something unique that she's brought." Shirelsaid that she was excited to return and be with Belle Cantoagain after three years of being a student and teaching intro to music education course . "It's nice to be back with an ensemble because there is a different level of collaboration " Shirelsaid. "Whenever I'm teaching a music education course, you know, I'm stillprimarily functioning in delivery of instruction. Whenever I'm directing an ensemble, we are collaborating to create a performance, and so it is a much more creative endeavor." story by Kayla Meeler 274
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