Nazareth College Vocal Jazz has become a favorite of Josh Groban’s when he is touring New York State. Nazareth vocalists have sung back up for Groban six times. LaMont Haywood, a 2016 graduate of Churchville-Chili Senior High School, was among the Nazareth group that performed at Groban’s June 28 concert at Turning Stone Resort.
It’s an honor for the student and alumni group and it’s demanding work. They work with a vocal coach a couple days before the concert, but they do not rehearse with Groban or the orchestra until they show up on stage and put it all together in performance.
“This never gets old,” said Nancy Strelau, associate chair of Nazareth’s Music Department, who helps contract the show with Groban. “This is a professional, life-changing experience and this time around the experience was only 48 hours from the beginning of Wednesday’s rehearsal to the performance on Friday night.”
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