As the lights come up, Longhorn Singers president Sydney Jennings begins the show with a soft, jazzy voice in “At Last” by Etta James, accompanied by the rest of the organization. With all of the singers donning red, pink and white attire, the tone for the show is set: all about love.
“(‘At Last’ is) one of my favorites. It’s one of my mom’s favorite songs,” public relations senior Jennings said. “It’s just pretty special to me, and it was fun to do a solo for one of my last shows.”
Longhorn Singers hosted “Lovesick,” a Valentines-inspired musical performance, on Feb. 21 in the auditorium of the Student Activity Center. The performance featured 19 songs, ranging across genres from yacht rock to Broadway tunes, bringing in music lovers from all over. Jennings said the money raised through tickets is the main function of the fundraising aspect for the show.
“All of that money, it’s really going towards our (organization) functioning in general,” Jennings said. “There’s a lot of expenses that go into how we run. Since we are a student (organization), it’s helpful for us to get money to be able to continue operating.”
Each member of Longhorn Singers focuses on their own specialties for the show, as well as the group numbers. Specialties include solos, duets and trios; treasurer Aiden Madaffri said members audition for a song of their choosing and get selected to perform this song for the show.
“(When) we had our dress rehearsal, we got to listen to each other’s specialties for the first time,” said Madaffri, an electrical and computer engineering and business honors sophomore. “Everyone in the group is so talented. We don’t get to hear everyone individually all the time. Getting to listen to my friends sing like that is really exciting.”
Madaffri said with rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and choreography rehearsals on Sundays, the organization dedicated its time to all aspects of the performance.
“It’s all student-led, besides our director,” vocal performance freshman Avery Marren said. “Everything’s very relaxed, yet we’re good about getting things done. The show pulled together very fast; this was less than a month in the making.”
On the day of the show, members prepare for the performance in several different ways with different traditions and pre-show routines. For social chair Ahana Bhat, “Good show buddies” is her favorite Longhorn Singers tradition.
“(‘Good show buddies’) is kind of like Secret Santa,” biochemistry sophomore Bhat said. “(During the day), I’m getting my gift prepared, and … I also practice some parts of my music that I didn’t feel super confident on.”
The last song of the show, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, highlighted the entire ensemble as a closing act. Jennings said, overall, “Lovesick” embodies the highs and lows of love.
“(The show) explores a lot of different varieties of love,” Jennings said. “There’s crazy stuff happening all over the world, all the time. But love, and being able to share love through music, is really important, and if that’s something that can brighten any audience member’s day, then I think we’ve done our goal.”
