Singer Spotlight: Steve Jordan

What was your first exposure to SVC…what/who inspired you to audition?
Our kids sang with Georgia Newlin in the SVC Children’s Choir. I think that my first exposure to SVC was hearing Marina Gresh absolutely destroy “Son of a Preacher Man” at one of the POPS concerts with our kids.

Once we realized that there was a legit high-level chorale based in our hometown, we wanted to audition as soon as possible. The only problem … three kids under the age of eight. So, we had to wait a few years until our eldest, Jane, could hold down the fort while we were a few blocks away at rehearsal. That happened around 2009, and though we’ve missed a season here and there, we haven’t looked back.

What do you enjoy most about being a member?
It’s sort of a tie. No matter how grumpy I am when I get to rehearsal, I almost always leave in a better mood. That’s one thing. But another is seeing so many people I love and admire at rehearsal. What a treat that is!

Finally, of course, playing my tiny role in huge, awe-inspiring, timeless music at performances is almost addictive. There have been many, many times when I have sung through tears, touched by the music, or just blown away by the beauty of the moment.

How do you like to spend your free time outside of SVC?
Trying to fix stuff, tending native plants at our cabin on Penns Creek, singing in the Folk Justice Band, fishing, continuing my eternal struggle to become a competent guitar player … that kind of thing!

Why do you think it is important to support the arts in our communities?
As a society, we create rich environments for our children to explore the arts in K-12 and then college, with the expectation that afterwards, I don’t know, they’ll just settle into the workaday world and be done with it. What a tragedy! Wouldn’t it be great if we had the chance to take part in the performing arts as adults like we did as kids?

And … many of us do! There are lots of strong ensembles in this area. We’re blessed to have opportunities to create beautiful art, to share it with our communities and loved ones, to not think about politics or work or responsibilities for a few transcendent hours every week, to commune with legendary poets and composers new and old, and with each other. I’m grateful to ALL the people who work hard to make that happen

What excites you most about the next era of SVC under a new conductor/music director?
Seeing how well he handles the smart alecks in the choir (not gonna name names, but you know who you are … wink, wink). Bill has always been so gracious about that, but maybe he just hasn’t been able to hear us. In all seriousness, I’m looking forward to continuing to do all the things I described above with an excellent new conductor!