MCC is rehearsal grounds for Mouth Men’s Vocal Collective

David Westlake
Mesa Legend

Have you ever heard singing coming out of Mesa Community College at night?  It’s not radio sounds emanating from a loudspeaker. It’s actually the Sounds of the Mouth Men’s Vocal Collective rehearsing in the music building. The Sounds of the Mouth sings various styles of music, from pop to choral, to indie and rock, and even a few renditions of barbershop.
No, not the place where you get a haircut.  It’s a style of choir music known as a capella harmony.

The Sounds of Mouth at rehearsal. Left: Dewey Jefferies, (Middle), Right: Mario Yniguez, co-director of the Sounds of the Mouth.
The Sounds of Mouth at rehearsal. Left: Dewey Jefferies, (Middle), Right: Mario Yniguez, co-director of the Sounds of the Mouth. Photo courtesy of: David Westlake, Mesa Legend

Barbershop choirs have four-part harmony singers: tenors, leads, basses, and baritones.  The group is combined to create vocal music.  The Chandler based choir has been rehearsing at MCC since 2015.  The more than two-dozen ensemble gather Wednesday nights in the music room for two hours.  They’ve performed at the Mesa Performance Arts Center and competed in regional events.

This year the group received an award at the Midwinter Competition, and this was their first visit as a group. Topher Keene is the co-director of Sounds of the Mouth. He says the group was formed for the students, “To connect young, innovative, passionate, vocal musicians across the valley. We want to change the world of vocal harmony by stretching the limits.” Keene says most of the choir members are MCC students and alums. He says anyone on campus can join them.

weird-photo-2“We are still accepting new members, there is an acceptance process where new members have to meet with the directors and sign a contract after a few trial rehearsals. Anyone is welcome to attend a rehearsal to see what the group is about,” he added. Sounds of the Mouth also works alongside Alpin Hong and local band known as Harrison Fjord.  Levi Median is one of the members who has recently joined the ensemble.

“The true reason why I picked the Sounds of the Mouth was that they are guys I know, they have the same passion as I do,” he says.  “Most of them are going into the same field as I am, which is musical education. It’s a way I can learn how to be with kids my age, and do the things that I love,” adds the Mesa Community College freshman. Medina says the team is passionate about their musical work and have the determination to pursue their goals and push the limits of singing and performance.

Most of the choir members are MCC students and alums. Co-director Keene says anyone on campus can join the choir. “We are still accepting new members. There is an acceptance process where new members have to meet with the directors and sign a contract after a few trial rehearsals. Anyone is welcome to attend a rehearsal to see what the group is about,” said Keene. The choir’s next performance will be during the “Go for Gold” concert and fundraiser on Oct. 2, 2016 at the Chandler Center for the Arts.

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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