Senior Soprano Follows Call to Sing with Spirit

By Tyler Grove, Style editor, The WeatherVane student newspaper

Lauren graduated in April 2009 and is now a music director at her home church near Washington, D.C.

Lauren Blitz, a senior church music major, uses her soprano talents to glorify God and raise awareness of social justice issues. (Photo: Sarah Luprek)

Despite four years of vocal training added to nearly a lifetime of choir singing, Lauren Blitz still struggled to calm her nerves.

The senior soprano delivered her first ever solo performance to a crowd of over fifty students, professors, friends and family members on Saturday, February 21.

“You get a lot of nerves,” Blitz said about the preparation for her debut recital. Although prayer helped to relax her the most, Blitz said that her choice of music gave her the strength to overcome her anxiety. “When I sing, it’s really to the glory of God, so choosing sacred music really helped me get through my own nerves,” she explained.

Her performance, “The Call: A Sacred Vocal Recital,” was a selection of nine songs spanning a wide range of the Christian experience. “Jerusalem” gave a mournful warning to a sin-plagued Israel, while songs like “Pie Jesu (Lord Have Mercy),” “Fair House of Joy,” “Bist Du bei Mir (You are with Me),” and “Dank sei Dir, Herr (Thanks be to God)” joyfully reflected on the church’s hope in Christ’s love and sacrifice.

Blitz also explored church ritual with both “Panis Angelicus” (Bread of Angels) and “The Call” focusing on the mystery of the Eucharist.

Blitz came to EMU from the D.C. metro area specifically for the church music program, but for Blitz, the value of her college experience goes beyond music. She said that she appreciates the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subjects. “Here, it’s not just about music,” Blitz said.

Blitz’s faith is the inspiration behind her musical passion. A church music major, Blitz is strongly interested in social justice issues. The final song of her performance, “Steal Away,” is an African American spiritual that was used to give signals to slaves travelling on the Underground Railroad. Of all the songs she performed, Blitz said that “Steal Away” was her favorite, because of its reminder for the church to fight against injustice.

Although she grew up singing in the choir, Blitz said that it took a while for her to become comfortable with her own voice. “For singers, a lot of times we hear professional singers and try to imitate them,” said Blitz.

She credits her teacher Melissa Coombs for helping her find and accept her individual voice and preparing her to study music in college. “Accept your natural God-given voice,” said Blitz. “You’re never going to sound like anyone else.”

After graduation, Blitz hopes to pursue her love of music by working with church choirs or hand bell choirs. She also wants to teach choir music to children, and hopes to give free or affordable lessons to children whose parents are not able to afford a traditional music teacher.

-posted Feb. 26, 2009 in The WeatherVane student newspaper