Saturday’s summer chorus bridges generations, fosters alumni-student connections

Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Alumni and Friends Summer Chorus this weekend is a 25-hour musical sprint. And with only three practices, the 60-plus singers taking part don’t have all that much time to match the standards some of them helped establish when the choral program was just getting started.

Along with former classmates and others, the challenge is proving to themselves and the audience they can still hit all the notes. There will also be members of their own families to impress. For a few, this isn’t the first time they will come back together to perform.

“Both of my children are involved in music and play in their school band, and it is important for me as a musician and a parent for my boys to see how hard work and dedication can help you succeed,” said Karen Drake of Merrillville, a music therapist and program coordinator for adults with developmental delays and autism. “They were amazed to attend a past concert and see how well we performed after such a short period of rehearsals.”

After William Sauerland became PFW’s director of choral studies in 2019, he had difficulty connecting with alumni during the pandemic, and one focus of the choral weekend idea was to create a community and reunite people.

“I also really wanted to make connections between our current students and our alums,” Sauerland said. “In my conversations with students, I was discovering that they didn’t know who came before them. I think understanding the program and its history and the folks who built it in the years before is really valuable.”

Sauerland started the event in 2020. Besides alumni, the choir can include current students, community members, and members of PFW’s Choral Union. Many are choir directors from throughout the state and music therapists. Singing in a choir can require finding rarely used musical muscles, as Sauerland likes picking challenging and entertaining pieces.

The first practice begins at 4 p.m. Friday and lasts until approximately 7 p.m., when various groups head to dinner together. The participants return Saturday at 10 a.m. to work another 2½ hours before a short lunch break followed by a three-hour session at 1:30 p.m.

“Everyone who participated last year worked to make the music that was selected as good as it could be,” said Dan Borns, Indiana Music Education Association’s 2025 High School Music Educator of Excellence. “With the level of experienced musicians in attendance, I felt as though we were successful in creating a quality performance. I feel like it was fun putting the music together, and that a good portion of this fun was how we made everything musical rather quickly.”

The practices are preparation for an informal six-song concert at 5 p.m., which lasts about 45 minutes. The reunion atmosphere may be what brings everyone back, but performing again is the special adrenaline that drives the show. As Sauerland said, it’s not only a concert, but also a celebration.

“Returning to PFW each year to attend the event is at the top of my list of things that bring me joy,” Drake said. “I love making music with some of my favorite musicians, old and new.”

The first event drew 30 singers, and the numbers have increased each year, meaning the venue has changed a couple times. This year’s host site will be First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 Wayne Street, in downtown Fort Wayne. Admission is free.

William Skoog, former choral director from 1997 to 2001, was last year’s guest conductor, which encouraged alumni from his generation to return, including Borns, who will join Sauerland this year as co-director. That also allows Sauerland to join in some singing.

“I really enjoyed getting a chance to perform with everyone and even got to invite my parents to come to the performance,” Borns said. “I grew up in the Fort Wayne area, and they still live close by. It was truly great to see everyone and to reconnect.”