Sustainer choir inspires unit

05.11.2009

Story by Sgt. Crystal Reidy 

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

The newly formed Sustainer Choir made their first performance at the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) prayer luncheon at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation east center here on April 4.

The choir was formed by Maj. Deon M. Green, 3d ESC command judge advocate and the Sustainment Choir director, so Soldiers from the unit could perform at unit functions.

"Having a small choir is a challenge because when only five or six people are singing you have to hit every note right every time," Green, from Milwaukee, Wis., said. She said joining the choir was open to any Soldier in the 3d ESC; with participants ranking from specialist to lieutenant colonel.

"I don't know how many more events we will do, but I do know there are some very talented people in this unit," Green said.

Green said the choir only had three weeks to practice before the concert and it was hard to meet because Soldiers have varying work schedules. She said thankfully, everyone was dedicated to making the choir successful.

"It was excellent in the end," Green said. "We had people who believed in the event and who had a desire to sing and came together to make it happen."

The Sustainer Choir is made up of five singers, one person who sings and plays the drums and one keyboard player.

Green also explained that the benefit of having a small choir is that the director can select songs that are not only appropriate for the event but songs that also match the voices of the people in the choir. She said she selected the first song, Holiness — the version the Sustainer Choir sang was inspired by gospel singer Donnie McClurkin's version of the popular song — because it fit the voices of the singers in the choir.

"I don't know if I've ever been in a unit with so much talent," Green said. "They're not just singers and musicians but other types of artists as well."

• Date Taken: 05.11.2009
• Date Posted: 05.11.2009 06:45
• Story ID: 33457