The annual Big Fall Show will be held Friday and Saturday, at 8 p.m. in the Martha Street Culp Auditorium.
This year’s show is a fundraiser for the ETSU chorale. The chorale, directed by Dr. Thomas Jenrette, has traveled to Yugoslavia, Austria, France, Holland, England. The goal of this fundraiser is to raise enough money for the chorale to travel to Italy where they will perform.
“They would leave in mid-March next year to hopefully sing at St. Mark’s church in Venice, and St. Peter’s church in Rome.” Jenrette said.
Tickets are $10 each.
The Big Fall Show will feature several ensembles, soloists performing numbers from Broadway productions and more.
“It’s a fun show,” said Joe Johnson, a member of 8BucsWorth, said. “We sing a lot of different types of music. There is something for everyone to enjoy.”
The focus of the Big Fall Show is the group known as 8BucsWorth.
Jenrette began the group in 1989, and the name was adopted from a suggestion by David White , a graduate student and member in 1991. The name representing ETSU’s mascot, has been changed several times since to accommodate the number of men in the group.
The men are chosen each year in April from the chorale. They practice and perform a variety of songs ranging from The Everly Brothers to Led Zeppelin.
The men are not only very talented, but the music is entertaining, Jenrette said.
“It’s the kind of thing that earns money,” he said.
That’s why the group is being made the marketing focus for the Big Fall Show this year.
Most of the music that they sing is a cappella. Some is choreographed by Beverly Dugger.
“I love directing the group,” Jenrette said. “It helps keep me young. The young men are so full of energy – always turned on about something.”
Members of this year’s group are Dan Cox, Matt Cook, Michael Philbeck, Jon Foulk, Joe Johnson, Zach Marshall, Russell Thompson and John Williams.
They have sung at a variety of events and have received invitations over the years from the American Choral Directors Association, the Tennessee Music Educators Association, the Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses, and the White House in Washington, D.C.
“These guys are all students here, and they really love to perform for their peers,” Jenrette said. “It’s their favorite audience and they don’t often get a chance, so we’d like to encourage you all to come. It means a lot to the guys.”
One student who has found a possible career through the group is Johnson who has performed with 8BucsWorth for two years and the chorale for three.
Johnson said that being in the ensemble has certainly enhanced his college experience.
“When I first came to ETSU, I was undecided (about a major),” he said. “I had been pursuing a career in engineering, but when I got involved with the chorale, I really found out that music is what I love. I love to perform.”
Johnson said he would like to eventually have a career in opera singing, which is very different from the music that he currently performs.
However, singing for the group is excellent practice, and he gets to concentrate on his vocal performance.
The group practices four days a week, Monday through Thurs-day. For more information about the performance, call 439-4270.

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