Singers to perform Motown music

'Double Take' gives music groups chance to perform together

By Anna Herkamp
Staff Writer

Wednesday night, numerous student committees will come together to show off talent that is not only seen on stage, but also that is displayed behind the scenes.

The Purdue Musical Organizations will perform their annual spring concert, "Double Take," at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in Loeb Playhouse.

"Double Take" is a name taken from the concert's theme of combining the University's two largest choirs, University Choir and PMO Express,

What's unusual about "Double Take" is how each year the student committees join together to decide a major aspect of the show, the medleys, said Laura Sargent, a junior in the School of Liberal Arts and student public relations coordinator for "Double Take."

The medleys are a group of songs taken from one artist, usually a pop star, and a single pop genre. The songs are then cut and re-mixed to fit a concert choir setting, said Katy Warner, a sophomore in the School of Liberal Arts, and student producer for "Double Take."

This year's concert will include music from singer-songwriter Billy Joel as well as songs from the Motown record label, said Sargent. Songs will be from a variety of Motown artists including The Supremes, The Temptations, Boys II Men, Stevie Wonder and the Four Tops. Sections from about 15 different songs of Billy Joel's music will be performed.

Student committees decide every aspect of a show, from technical to musical, said Warner.

Student committees include music arranging, staging, directing, choreography and costumes as well technical committees for the sound and lighting, said Warner.

Though she is only a sophomore, Warner says she keeps busy at her job. As a student producer, her responsibilities include scheduling rehearsals, deciding who gets parts in the medleys, running rehearsals and dealing with the daily responsibilities of managing the individuals in a performing group.

Through all of her work on PMO, it is important to note that Warner is still a full-time student, and all the time spent on rehearsals and planning puts a strain on her time for schoolwork; however, there are times when all the effort is well worth the time, she said.

After one concert, a woman came up to her and expressed her gratitude for how happy she was that PMO came to her town and performed. The woman told Warner she wasn't even going to go to the performance because she'd been having such a bad week, but then she changed her mind.

"The woman said our show changed everything," said Warner.

When asked why she likes performing in PMO, Warner told this story and said, "That’s why we do it."

• Tickets for "Double Take" are available at the Purdue Box Office. Also, anyone interested in joining PMO should come to the call out at 6 p.m., April 23, at the 3rd floor rehearsal room of the Elliott Hall of Music.

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