The sweetest music

Day in the life

As 13 girls enter the music building Thursday evening, one already is practicing at the piano. Her face lights up as the girls enter the room. At a little after 7 p.m., she rounds them up and begins warming their voices by playing scales on the piano. Glynn looks forward to each Monday, Tuesday and Thursday when the group gets together to practice.

At the piano sits senior Heather Glynn, the music director of the all-female a cappella group Note-oriety. Glynn always has been very involved in the group since she has been a member since her first semester freshman year. She has been busy arranging music — taking a song and making it fit the group’s voices — filling the secretary position for two years and now, as a senior, becoming the music director and president.

"I make sure everything is running smoothly," Glynn said. With this job, Glynn has all the duties and responsibilities both of a chorus teacher and an executive leader.

Some of Glynn’s tasks include teaching music, conducting, warming up the group and picking concert order. The girls vote each year on a new president, and this year Glynn was voted unanimously.

Music always has been an important part of Glynn’s life, so she seemed to be a natural choice for president of Note-oriety. Even in high school, Glynn was active in her school’s choirs. Now she is a music education major and hopes to become a music teacher when she graduates. Leading Note-oriety only has helped to guide her future goals.

"I take classes on how to run a choral ensemble," she said. "It’s what I want to do with my life. What’s better than sitting in front of 13 of your best girlfriends and doing what you love to do?"

Glynn also is a member of Madison Singers and Chorale, groups affiliated with the music department. She must juggle her regular classes — 18 credits total — meetings for the choral department, Note-oriety rehearsals and spending hours in the practice room perfecting her voice. She is working on Note-oriety’s new compact disc to be released in the spring. Also, Glynn is continuing work on her senior recital — an hour-long singing performance that she has been developing for four years.

"My day is really nonstop," Glynn said. "I just have to keep up and constantly improve my voice."
Glynn couldn’t cope without support from important people in her life. Her roommate, senior Jessie Mannix, and fiancé, senior Nate Miller, a member of the a cappella group Exit 245, always are there for her. Most importantly, though, are the girls in the group who truly support Glynn.

"I am so proud to be in a group with someone who juggles so many things and still has a positive attitude," sophomore Erin Frye said. "She’s also more musically talented than anyone I have ever met, and I truly look up to her."

Senior Ashley Bulala has known Heather since freshman year. "She brings energy and life to the group," Bulala said. "She is so encouraging and makes us all want to come to practice and be here."

The girls also are an inspiration to Glynn. "They support me so much," she said. "They are behind me 100 percent. I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls."