ETSU’s Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Thomas Jenrette, plans to take center stage as a guest director for a concert in New York City’s Carnegie Hall, in March of 2010. Jenrette has been invited to direct a mass choir of university and high school choirs from across the United States.
“It is a great honor to be asked to conduct in Carnegie Hall,” said Jenrette. “Some of the world’s greatest composers and directors have conducted there, and I am able to follow in their footsteps.”
Jenrette is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor of arts in music, and also a master of music in choral conducting. He then graduated from The University of Michigan with a doctor of musical arts in voice performance.
The musical selections for the concert will be chosen by Jenrette. The concert will be accompanied by a full orchestra. “I will also be taking some of the chorale members with me to perform,” said Jenrette.
“Dr. Jenrette is a well known and accomplished director so it did not surprise me that he was chosen to conduct at Carnegie Hall,” said Ann Jones, accompanist for the chorale.
2009 has marked the 30th year that Jenrette has been the director of choral activities at ETSU.
“I am not surprised that Dr. Jenrette has been here for thirty years,” said Sharvis Smith, junior member of the chorale. “He not only has the ability to make some of the most amazing music, but he always cares about his students.”
Jenrette said, “I am not sure what the criteria that one must have to be chosen to direct in Carnegie Hall, but I have guest conducted for many choirs and I have conducted in many places around the United States as well as around the world.”
During his 30 year career at ETSU, Jenrette has formed many different ensembles. At the beginning, he formed the chorale which met every day. Then due to time conflicts he formed smaller ensembles: the chamber choir, which met two times a week, and a male and a female ensemble that met three times a week. Then finally in 1998 he reformed the chorale which once again met every day.
Also, Jenrette has formed smaller ensembles over time. He formed the Jazz Singers which was a group for 12 to 14 students. Also, he formed the male ensemble BucsWorth.
All of the hard work and dedication that Jenrette has given to each of these ensembles has been showcased through all of the trips he has taken his students on. Jenrette was invited in 1989 to bring the ETSU Jazz Singers, and in 1999 and 2007 the ETSU Men’s Ensemble, to the National American Choral Director’s Association Convention.
“Being asked to have my students perform at these conventions is such a great honor,” said Jenrette. “Not only because we were asked to perform, because we were asked by a group of my peers. Also, I only know of one other choir in the state of Tennessee that has been asked to perform at the National ACDA Convention, but I have had the honor of taking them three times.”
Jenrette has not only taken his students to these conventions, but he has taken them on concert tours around other countries. In 1985 he took the ETSU Chamber Choir to Yugoslavia, Austria and Italy. Next in 1996 the male ensemble TenBucsWorth traveled to Venezuela.
In 1998 Jenrette traveled with the chorale to England, France and the Netherlands. In the spring of 2001, the chorale toured Italy. Five years later the chorale toured in Germany. Then this year the chorale went on a tour of Spain and France.
“I really enjoy taking my students on trips overseas because it not only lets them travel to other countries, but it lets them witness other cultures and sing in some of the most amazing places around the world,” said Jenrette.
Seventy-six students went on the recent trip to Spain and France. The chorale performed seven times on the trip. Three of the performances were in France located in some of the most well known cathedrals in the world. The cathedrals in Paris were La Madeleine Church and the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. The other French cathedral was Chartres Cathedral in Chartres.
“My favorite concert was in Segovia, Spain when we performed at the Mass in San Millan Church,” said Nathan Whitehead, freshman member of the chorale. The acoustics were like nothing I ever heard before.”
Jenrette was pleased with every performance. “Some performances the chorale had all odds against them – like having to perform after a long plane ride and also in what felt like sub-zero temperatures, but they pulled through like professionals,” he said.
“I hope to take the chorale on a trip in the near future. Each trip brings new experiences and great memories,” said Jenrette.

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