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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2002)
THE BATTj lits fuied from m the number iv mg together in 0 ivc and cut downy rking complain >v* ordinance u : for the developm J,xl i\ isions in Bn ege Station ■ Kmtinate limits a. v*ral years. Jui* itorccment olfKer 1 College Slatiot Station nient has given u ‘ years, but nociu lar to Brsan. ur, e begun if a neir Aggielife The Battalion Page 3 • Friday, September 13, 2002 I A century of perfect harmony Singing Cadets tour through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas this season dilation neme.tc- v to te&i Didevv. span say$ my hold? GTON (AP) - Chairm^ By Heather Campbell THE BATTALION ■ What began as a nine-member Glee Club in the 18" k has turned into a group of talented singers wlu) share a passion for music. A year full of tour ing cities across the United States awaits the Singing CB'fvts as it prepares for its 100th touring season. ■ Known for incredible talent and quality enter tainment, the Singing Cadets was founded in 1893. Sii e then, it has performed for audiences all over the nation. ■ Clint Pasche, president of the Singing Cadets and a luate kinesiology major, said singing for the ■evident’s secret servicemen was one particularly memorable performance. ■ "We were at a concert and these men came up and asked if we were the Singing Cadets,” Pasche saul. "They said that they had heard a lot of our songs in the limousine.” I Pasche said the singers often perform for famous people and that it’s exciting to stand in front of the president or a famous actor and see him enjoying the performance. I "We sang for President Geoi^e W. Bush after dinner at his apartment in the George Bush Library, and it was really cool because everyone from com mentators to TV anchors and professional athletes m-re all there,” Pasche said. “The president and his wile were sitting on the floor with the dog, laughing, listening to music and just enjoying the night.” I This year, the Cadets will have a 10-day winter tour in January and will travel through Texas. Oklahoma and Kansas. Its spring tours consist of three weekends traveling to different parts of Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. Included on the bill are Aggie songs, as well as new additions com- momorating Sept. 11. 1 Since Sept. 11, David Kipp, director of the Singing Cadets, said many of the songs now honor that day. He said now, more than ever, people’s lives arc being impacted by these songs about our coun try- Kipp said that a high school teacher told him that he turned on the Singing Cadets’ CD during class and played "The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “God Bless the USA” for his class on Sept. 11. The teacher said tears streamed down students’ faces and even a “big football player” was choked up. Afterwards, the teacher said students asked for it to be played again and only scratches of pencil on paper could be heard. Pasche said he sees touring as a way to give back to the University. "This University gives a lot with the spirit and culture and it’s neat to be able to give back to A&M and make people around the country aware,” he said. "Our goal is to enhance the public relations of Texas A&M University and to promote it through music.” During tours, the Cadets enjoy seeing interesting sites of the cities they visit. "We’re going to sing at the memorial for the Oklahoma City Bombing site and see the Air Force tour at the Boeing Plant,” Pasche said. "They take us around and show us the cool places in each city we visit.” The Singing Cadets said it feels at home when traveling because the Aggie Moms’ Clubs host, and the members are able to stay in the homes of local families during tours. Jeremiah Gore, Class of 1999, was in the Singing Cadets from 1997 to 2001 and said that the reason he stayed for so long was because of the tours. "A lot of times, we are the first Aggies these fam ilies meet,” Gore said. "Sometimes it can be like you’re on a missionary job. The tours are a lot of fun because you’re doing what you love and represent ing A&M at the same time. I did it through my first year in graduate school because I loved it too much to quit.” Pasche agrees and said the families they stay with expect the stereotypical college student but experience something totally different. "In the host home, we’re at their disposal and it’s neat for these families who might not even know of A&M to see a college student impact their chil dren,” Pasche said. "It really does happen. We hear stories come back of people who have changed the way they look at our University. It's neat to be able to represent our age in a better light to these people.” PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SINGING CADE TS Rehearsing for the tours begins next week after the new members are selected. . Brice Kelso, a freshman business major, is audi tioning this week for the group. Kelso said the Singing Cadets appealed to him because of the group’s dedication. “It’s something people join because they want to and so everyone is motivated to do well,” Kelso said. “I love sound and I love the opportunity it presents.” Not only are the singers well known within the A&M community, but they are also making their mark all over the world. Kipp said the demanding routine of daily rehearsals and traveling to engage ments throughout the year keeps the Cadets on a tight schedule. "Each year we have 50-60 concerts so it is very busy,” Kipp said. “I was looking at the calendar the other day to schedule performances, and as of the second day of school, we already had 51 events. I am very excited about the year ahead of us, as it is full of unique opportunities.” Kipp said that this year will be the first time since 1976 for the Singing Cadets to sing at a football game. It will lead the crowd in "God Bless the USA” at the Virginia Tech game. “It’s exciting because we do something new every year, and we can't anticipate where we'll be going or who we’ll be seeing,” Pasche said. "We travel annually to the Miss Texas USA pageant and have been doing that since the 1960s, when it was called the Miss Teenage America pageant.” Paxton Kelso, a senior journalism major, said the satisfaction of being in the Singing Cadets comes purely from the guys you get to stay in touch after graduation. “Really, the relationships are cemented when we tour,” Kelso said. “It’s the one time when we're just with the guys, have no homework to distract us. and have plenty of time for goofing off and getting to know who each other are.” Kelso said the reasons for the group’s ongoing success can be found in its motivation as it strives to maintain Texas A&M’s image through singing. "What 1 hope is that [members of the Singing Cadets will] go out and be active in A&M clubs and churches and that music will be an integral part of their everyday life,” Kipp said. that sepies: i the Amercanec nger from the ? d the stod iw reenspan »' suggestion': Bush's future & ed because ?deral deficits. 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