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Singers let loose in new Manchoir at Timberline

By Venice Buhain | The Olympian • Published December 01, 2007

In two rows and three sections, about 30 young men assembled in the Timberline High School choir room, faces forward, hands out of their pockets and by their sides.

Winter concert schedule

The following are winter concerts in North Thurston, Olympia and Tumwater Schools. All performances are at the schools listed, unless otherwise noted.

North Thurston

Monday

7 p.m.:
Zone 3 Schools, Holiday for Strings Concert at North Thurston High School Gym

Tuesday

•6 p.m.:
Evergreen Forest and Meadows Fifth-Grade Band Concert at River Ridge High School Theatre

7 p.m.: Woodland Elementary Winter Music Concert, third and fourth grades

7 p.m.: Evergreen Forest and Meadows Sixth-Grade Band Concert at River Ridge High School Theatre

Wednesday

•7 p.m.:
Horizons and Mountain View Elementary Band Concert at Komachin Middle School Gym

Thursday

•7 p.m.:
Lydia Hawk Elementary Band Concert

Dec. 10

•6:30 p.m.:
Evergreen Forest Winter program, "Santa's Workshop and The Elves' Impersonator"

7 p.m.: Komachin Middle School Winter Orchestra Concert

7 p.m.: Nisqually Middle School Winter Choir Concert

7 p.m.: North Thurston High School Band, Orchestra and Choir Concert at North Thurston Performing Arts Center

Dec. 11

•7 p.m.:
Chinook Middle School Winter Choir Concert

7 p.m.: River Ridge High School Band and Orchestra Concert at River Ridge High School Theatre

7 p.m.: Timberline High School Band, Orchestra and Choir Concert at North Thurston Performing Arts Center

Dec. 12

•7 p.m.:
River Ridge High School Choir Concert

7 p.m.: Timberline High School Band, Orchestra and Choir Concert at North Thurston Performing Arts Center

Dec. 13

•7 p.m.:
Komachin Middle School and Lakes and Woodland elementary bands concert at Komachin

7 p.m.: Chinook Middle School Band and Orchestra Concert at North Thurston Performing Arts Center

Dec. 14

During school, Komachin Middle School Music Winter Concert Assembly

8:15 a.m.: Chinook Middle School Band, Orchestra and Choir Winter Concert Assembly

7 p.m.: Woodland Choir Concert and Woodland and Lakes Orchestra Concert at Woodland Elementary School.

Dec. 18

During school, Nisqually Middle School Band, Orchestra and Choir Holiday Concert Assembly

Olympia School District

Tuesday

•7:30 p.m.:
Marshall Middle School Orchestra Concert

7:30 p.m.: Washington and Reeves middle schools Orchestra Concert at Olympia High School Performing Arts Center

Wednesday

•7:30 p.m.:
Reeves Middle School Choir Concert at Olympia High School

Thursday

•7:30 p.m.:
Marshall Middle School Band Concert

7 p.m.: Jefferson Middle School Choir and Orchestra Concert

7 p.m.: Washington Middle School Band Concert

Dec. 10

•7 p.m.:
Jefferson Middle School Band Concert at Capital High School

7:30 p.m.: Olympia High School Holiday Concert

Dec. 11

•2:30 p.m.:
Centennial Elementary School Fourth and Fifth-Grade Orchestra and Band Concert

7 p.m.: Capital High School Choir Concert

7:30 p.m.: Olympia High School Holiday Concert

Dec. 12

•7 p.m.:
Capital High School Orchestra Concert

7 p.m.: Marshall Middle School Choir Concert

7:30 p.m.: Reeves Middle School Band Concert

Dec. 13

•6:30 p.m.:
Garfield Elementary School Winter Concert

7 p.m.: Capital High School Band Concert

7:30 p.m.: Olympia High School Holiday Concert

Dec. 14

•9:15 a.m.:
McKenny Elementary School Band and Orchestra Concert

9:15 a.m.: McLane Elementary School Band and Orchestra Concert

2:30 p.m.: Pioneer Elementary School Music Concert

Dec. 17

•6 p.m.:
Washington Middle School Choir Concert at Olympia High School

7 p.m.: Centennial Elementary School Choir Concert at Olympia High School

Dec. 18

•2:30 p.m.:
Hansen Elementary School Music Concert

Tumwater School District

Tuesday

•7 p.m.:
Littlerock Elementary Orchestra and second grade music program.

Wednesday

•7 p.m.:
Peter G. Schmidt fifth- and sixth-grade band.

Thursday

•7 p.m.:
Tumwater High School Choir Concert

Dec. 11

•7 p.m.:
Black Hills High School Band Concert

7 p.m.: Littlerock Elementary Band and Choir

7 p.m.: East Olympia Elementary Band and Orchestra

Dec. 12

•7 p.m.:
Tumwater Middle School Band Concert

7 p.m.: Peter G. Schmidt Orchestra

Dec. 13

•7 p.m.:
Tumwater High School Band

7 p.m.: Black Hills High School Choir Concert

Dec. 14

•7 p.m.:
Tumwater Middle School Choir Concert

Dec. 17

•7 p.m.:
Black Lake Elementary Band and Orchestra

"Do we get in our 'man-stance?' " one of them joked before the group began singing "Silent Night" for the debut of Manchoir, Timberline's new all-male choir under the direction of choir teacher Terry Shaw.

Manchoir will make its debut Dec. 12 at Timberline's Winter Arts Festival.

Shaw said members of an all-men's or all-women's choir seem to be willing to let loose and give performances they wouldn't give in a co-ed choir, such as the men stomping back and forth in rehearsal while singing their part of a Nigerian Christmas song.

Although "Betelehemu" will be a co-ed performance Dec. 12, a co-ed group might be more self-conscious about getting into the motions, Shaw said.

"We wouldn't do that if girls were here," he said.

The group started its first rehearsal after football season ended; Shaw is one of the football team's coaches.

Although Manchoir has been together for only three weeks, many members are in other choirs or play instruments in band or orchestra.

"I still think we have that same dedication as symphonic choir," said Mark Brown, 17, a senior. "But Manchoir is this big, awesome choir. Powerful."

Even though Brown was joking, Manchoir did have a booming bass sound while practicing "Silent Night" and a Christmas parody of the song "Silhouettes," a song performed by Herman's Hermits, among others.

The group learned those songs so quickly, Shaw added the Nigerian Christmas carol to the repertoire.

The idea of having an all-male choir has been around for a few years, said Jared Bell, 17, a senior.

After extensive publicity in the morning public-address announcements, about 50 men showed up to the first rehearsal, Brown said.

"I think it helped that Mr. Shaw is a football coach and teaches weightlifting," he said. "He's lifting 400 pounds and telling me, 'Join the choir.' "

Venice Buhain covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5445 or vbuhain@theolympian.com.

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