New Ensemble, Cardinal Voices, Premieres Tonight

Cardinal Voices, NIC’s new music ensemble, will premiere tonight in the Schuler Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m.

Cardinal Voices rehearsing “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.” From left to right, Max Mendez, director, on drums; Kailey Martinelli on keyboard; Marc Sego on guitar; Jacob Hall on guitar; Jon Schmehl on bass guitar; Dakotah Andrews; and Hailey Levasseur on tambourine.

 “I started this ensemble because I wanted an alternative to a traditional music ensemble that you would take part of in a college atmosphere,” said Max Mendez, Professor of Music and Director of Choirs at NIC. “One that really had some allowances and space for students who might not be real comfortable in a traditional ensemble set but is really immersed in commercial music, understands commercial music or wants to learn more about commercial music as part of their education. I wanted a safe space so people could ask questions and learn about popular music and explore it and explore songwriting in a greater sense rather than looking at an established arrangement most of the time, being able to create something from scratch given the talent that’s in the room.”

Throughout the semester, students explore commercial music while improving their performance, songwriting and arranging skills.

Martinelli arranged “Blackbird” and “Ob-La Di, Ob-La-Da” for the performance. “[The course] taught me a lot about arranging,” she said. Martinelli is studying for her music degree at NIC.

“Basically, we have the structure and where we’re going in the song,” said Kailey Martinelli, one of the six student performers. “If we have an idea to throw in that’s good.”

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it,” said Hailey Levasseur, another ensemble member. “Because you can’t not put in that much effort and expect to be ready for performance at this time.”

At the concert, Cardinal Voices will be performing five Beatles songs that they’ve rearranged to make it their own. Each student took on a leadership role in directing their own arrangement of the different pieces.

Levasseur arranged “I Saw Her Standing There.” Each student gets to pick three songs to arrange, and then direct them in class.

“Providing each student with the ability to be a leader in a group, that’s an important skill to learn not only in a music group but in life,” Mendez said. “Sometimes we’re followers, sometimes we have to know our role as a follower and supporter of a person’s vision, and sometimes we have to be able to share and communicate our vision and allow the group to help realize that vision to the best of their ability. I think that’s an important lesson for us leaders to learn. My goal is to make the best music possible with the musicians that are in the room. That’s all we can ever ask.”

Next semester, Mendez plans to focus on female songwriter from all eras. “I don’t think the music is any different as far as the creation of it but there’s definitely a lyric perspective through that lens that I think is really important to look at,” Mendez said.

Mendez said that, through a semester of the course, he wants students to gain tools and understand repertoire within a certain segment of popular music. Each semester, Mendez will pick a different theme for the students to explore.

“For a lot of people, the path for a working musician/performer is looking at a diverse background of music,” Mendez said.

The goal is to prepare students to give public performances by working through a variety of popular music that they can use on the spot.

Cardinal Voices will be performing at NIC’s free concert, New Directions, along with the NIC Jazz ensemble directed by Byran Hannaford.

“This is mostly their vision with the talent of the group,” Mendez said.

The ensemble’s next performance will be a showcase in the Boswell Hall Lobby on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m.  

“It was really fun to be creative and come up with our own ideas,” Martinelli said. “I’m so excited.”