Voices of Lee members balance dedication to school and music
Photo by Ashley Morell.
Over the last 25 years, Voices of Lee has become an intricate part of Lee. Directed by Danny Murray, Voices is recognized for its acapella ensemble and effortless performances. Known for winning the “Acapella Music Awards” in 2018 and surpassing 1 million views for their cover of “What A Beautiful Name,” students in the group dedicate their time and talents for successful performances.
Andrew Carroll, a junior music education major, said he “was utterly blown away” the first time he heard Voices live.
“From that point on I was like, I have to do this. There was no choice in the matter,” said Carroll.
At the start of Carroll’s journey with Voices, he quickly realized he had his work cut out for him if he wanted to be truly successful.
“When I first got in, I was overwhelmed by the music, and I was overwhelmed by my own lack of ability,” said Carroll. “Danny would tell me to do something, and I just didn’t believe my voice could make that sound. But he believed it, and he wouldn’t rest until I believed it too.”
While the standards appear high, Coleman Smart, a junior music education major, believes full dedication to the group involves a give and take.
“Good singing, and especially singing for God, should cost you something. It should cost you time, practice, physical energy and spiritual energy — because you’re pouring your heart into it,” said Smart. “While it is work, it should also be a joy at the same time.”
The group travels multiple times per month, requiring students in Voices to have excellent time management skills to balance the demands of the group and their schoolwork.
“We’re on tour almost every weekend, which is very time consuming and frustrating when you have tests and quizzes to make up,” said junior music education major Courtney Grimes.
With frequent touring, the bond in the ensemble has evolved each year but has always remained tight-knit.
“A lot of the people in the group are like brothers and sisters to me because of how much time I have spent with them and just the way that we love and support one another,” said Smart.
Even with their bond, Grimes recognizes there are days when the chemistry within the group is off, and the relationships formed with their peers are necessary to perform well together.
“[Murray] says, ‘you need to spend equal time with the person you love and the person you hate,’” said Grimes. “Because if you don’t, then the bond that is within the group — that really truly unifies our sound — it won’t sound the same. Something as simple as a relationship can really change the way that our music sounds together.”
Despite the exhaustion and frustration that comes with constant touring, the group’s focus on unity brings them back to their primary focus of ministering with one another.
“Together is really the emphasis when doing ministry as a group,” said Grimes. “Because, if we are not a whole, then the ministry is not there — it’s a broken ministry. And that is really something you really have to fight for sometimes.”
As each tour date comes to a close, the students behind Voices find reassurance knowing they have found a family in the group.
“[Murray] is in a lot of ways like a father figure to a lot of people in the group,” said Smart. “He fights for us like nobody else that I know outside of my family. He is so on our side and wants to see us succeed more than anything else.”
For more information about Voices of Lee, click here.
