Henry Longfellow, a 19th-century American poet, once called music “the universal language of mankind.” Music has the ability to bring people together and unite them through their love for music. Junior Elisabeth Bassen said this is her favorite part about the Elon University Electric Ensemble.
“I get to be in class with people who are just as passionate about music as I am,” Bassen said.
Elon’s Electric Ensemble, E3, will be performing their spring show May 2 in McCrary Theatre. The ensemble will be performing Michael Jackson’s complete “Thriller” album including famous hits such as “Thriller,” “Beat It” and “Billie Jean.”
Todd Coleman, associate professor of music, said he chose this album because it is “the best selling album of all time.” Coleman said people listen to that album and know almost all the songs because they are some of Michael Jackson’s most well-known songs.
Bassen, a junior music technology major, said the ensemble has two one-hour and 40 minute rehearsals each week.
“In the beginning of the semester, we would sight read our music,” Bassen said. “As the semester has progressed, we’ve become more comfortable with the music. Currently we’re focusing more on our transitions, harmonies and on the endings.”
Coleman is the director of the ensemble and in charge of picking the theme and coming up with a core set of songs. He said he always weighs students' opinions and ideas, as well. Past themes include Woodstock, country and classic rock.
“We do a wide variety of popular music,” Coleman said. “Our first show was the birth of MTV, music of the 80’s.”
Senior Kara Johnson, a music technology and media arts and entertainment major, said she saw an event on the cultural calendar called “Electric Ensemble” and decided to go to it during her first semester at Elon. She has been a part of the ensemble every semester since then.
“I was blown away by the quality of the performance and really just the fact that it was such a different kind of performance than I was used to,” Johnson said. “Most concerts and recitals you attend typically feature older, more classical music, but Electric Ensemble is primarily a pop-rock ensemble.”
The ensemble is comprised mostly of music technology majors, but is open to anybody on campus. Coleman said there are usually one or two people in the ensemble each semester outside of the music technology major.
“When I first started the electric ensemble, I actually intended it to be more like Techtronica is, meaning it was more electronic music based with laptops and synthesizers,” Coleman said.
Techtronica is the new ensemble focused on technology in music. When Coleman started the ensemble, it was his second year at Elon and the program didn’t have most of the required equipment.
Johnson said E3 has exposed her to different kinds of music that she wouldn’t normally listen to. After a country show a few years ago, Johnson said, “I came to appreciate country music a lot more, especially the songwriting.”
The Electric Ensemble started in the fall of 2008. The biggest change the group has made since then is the inclusion of original student works. The ensemble’s fall shows are generally made up of student work and in the last two years, the music has been written by students in the ensemble.
The music technology program started with only two students and now has 40 students. Alumni of the program have accomplished much since graduating. Their jobs include playing on cruise ships, singing in Nashville, touring the country, writing music and concert reviews.
Music technology majors learn to arrange music and get hands-on experience with the technology behind performing live.
“It’s meant to give them a glimpse into the whole live music process,” Coleman said.
Bassen, the lead vocalist for the upcoming concert May 2, said she’s extremely grateful to have the privilege to work with Coleman, Todd Sawyer and others involved in the ensemble.
Johnson said Electric Ensemble has always been one of her favorite classes.
“I always brag to people about how I get class credit to play music," she said.
Coleman said he believes the program has revolutionized the way students can study and practice music on campus.
“Most music departments at universities focus on classical music from the 1700s and maybe some schools that have a strong composition program might focus on 20th century music, but hardly do any commercial or pop music,” Coleman said. “I always had a vision for a program that embraced all styles that would enrich everybody’s experience.”