Trinity Valley Community College and Tyler Junior College are partnering to offer a spring choir concert on April 27 at the Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center in Tyler.

While assisting students at Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio, TVCC Division Chair of Fine Arts and Kinesiology, Professor of Voice, and Interim Choral Director Dr. Kristin Huggins was approached by TJC Director of Choral Music Robert Boren with an idea to partner together.

“At the College Night event, we were there with our All-State students and our music majors helping to introduce them to recruiters from four-year music programs, while also working our own booth and recruiting high school students,” Huggins explained. “Robert introduced himself and said he was a TVCC alumni of the music department.”

Huggins continues that Boren explained that TVCC and TJC are seen as rival colleges, but he would love for the colleges to work together.

“He said he realized we were supposed to be "enemies” but thought that shouldn't keep us from working together and giving TVCC students opportunities to sing major choral works,” Huggins said. “He invited TVCC choir students to sing with TJC choirs at their final Spring 2024 concert.”

Boren shared that when he heard Huggins had stepped into the position of Interim Choral Director, he had to reach out to her for the opportunity.

“I wanted to give those students the experience of singing in a larger ensemble and performing a masterwork,” Boren said. “I’m very passionate about the Junior/Community college programs since that’s where I [started].”

Boren is excited to collaborate with Huggins and partner TVCC and TJC choirs.

“We’re very excited to combine forces!” Boren commented. “As a graduate, I am always watching and rooting for the TVCC Choral Program.”

Boren invited TVCC Choir members to perform in John Rutter's Gloria and Faure's Requiem. Huggins will also be performing as a Soprano soloist in Requiem.

“Both [pieces] are outstanding choral works,” Huggins exclaimed. “They are show-stoppers!”

Huggins shared how exciting it is to see these two colleges collaborate.

“This is such a great example of how performing arts bridges all boundaries, even those between "rival colleges,” Huggins expressed. “I'm so thrilled for our choir students to have the opportunity to sing with a larger ensemble of 50-60 singers and to get to tackle these iconic choral works. This will be such a fun experience for us all!”

The Concert Choir and Chambers Singers Masterworks Concert is set for Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center in Tyler.