LJWorld.com

Photo by Nick Krug

A collaboration of singers from South and Central junior high schools participate in a tuning exercise by Cantus tenor Shahzore Shah, left, during a practice session Wednesday afternoon at Central Junior High School. Cantus will perform at 7:30 p.m. today at the Lied Center.

A choir teacher might make a suggestion. A classmate might make a comment.

But when an elite ensemble of singers gives some pointers, young vocalists tend to listen.

"Hearing someone who has been singing for a long time as a professional is really exciting and inspirational," said Regan Keller, a member of Central Junior High School's Excalibur choir.

Keller was among hundreds of local junior high and high school students who have been working this week with Cantus, a male vocal ensemble group that will perform at 7:30 p.m. today at the Lied Center.

Members of Cantus, which is based in Minneapolis, Minn., spent about an hour Wednesday afternoon with Excalibur and South Singers, South Junior High School's choir.

After listening to the students sing two selections, Cantos members gave a few tips, which included how to stand, project attitude and phrase words.

"Who out there thinks that sounds happier?" said Tom McNichols, his deep bass voice booming across the stage at Central after having students stand a little differently.

Gary Ruschman, a Cantus tenor, told students of a standard rule for singers onstage who are waiting for their parts to come up.

Photo by Nick Krug

Members of Cantus, a male vocal ensemble from Minneapolis, Minn., give a brief performance to students from South and Central junior high schools Wednesday at Central Junior High School.

"You have to give as much personality as the person who is singing or playing," Ruschman said.

Shahzore Shah, a tenor, had them emphasize each syllable in the phrase "With cher-U-bim and ser-a-phim, har-MON-i-ous JOY!"

As other members of the groups took turns on the stage to help the students, McNichols explained that Cantus members teach about 40 days each year while on tour, seeing a few thousand students.

"The crux of our job is we give about 80 concerts a year," McNichols said. "About half of those places set up events like this when we're in town ... You can't change much in 25 minutes. But you can plant some seeds."

McNichols rated the local students as "very, very good."

"I would put their sound in the top 10 percent of similar age brackets," he said. "These are definitely some of the best we've seen around the country."

Amy Fish, director of Excalibur, said the Cantus visit will reinforce her students' desire to sing.

"It's a great opportunity for the kids, and I'm glad the Lied Center gave us this opportunity," Fish said.

Mark Robinson, South Singers' director, said he would use the Cantus pointers in upcoming rehearsals.

"Exposure to the professional ear and viewpoint just opens so many doors for them," Robinson said. "And it opens so many ways of thinking about music."