Last spring Jennifer Jones and the women of Voices in Harmony chorus traveled to Cleveland to participate in a regional Sweet Adeline’s competition. Dressed as newsboys from the turn of the century, they sang songs in the barbershop style of a cappella harmony.
Facing competitors from Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, the women won third place in their division and fourth overall. They also won the title of Most Improved for the second year in a row, a strong compliment to Jones’ work as assistant musical director and the dedication of her chorus mates.
Photo by Scott Galvin, U-M Photo Services.
“Singing is a very important part of my life, and the people in this group are an important part of my life,” says Jones, coordinator for the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology’s Global Initiatives program. “The members become a family.”
In her work with the Global Initiatives program, Jones oversees various aspects of an international visitor’s time at the school. She is in charge of communication prior to arrival and sending out formal invitations to visitors. She also coordinates travel arrangements like securing visas, scheduling flights and reserving hotel rooms.
These visitors come from Ghana, China, Spain and Brazil for research in new medical technologies and techniques to take back to their home countries. Once they arrive, Jones acts as their hostess and plans their travel to and from the airport and around Ann Arbor. She provides an itinerary for the duration of their stay, including activities like shadowing doctors and hearing presentations on advances in women’s health.
Jones says that helping further the Global Initiatives mission, and seeing the positive experience that guests have, makes her work in getting them here rewarding.
“I enjoy my job, it’s different every day,” says Jones, who has been with U-M for 12 years, eight in her current position. “It’s a great department to work for, they’re very supportive and understand family life.”
When there aren’t visitors, Jones acts as support person for the Global Initiatives director and department administrator, she does payroll and coordinates “Grand Rounds,” a speaker series where guest faculty members give presentations.
Jones currently lives in her hometown, Belleville. Her parents, grandparents and sister Julie still live nearby, and she spends time with them often. Jones says she got her love of music from her family, who were part of church chorale groups and have supported her as a singer since she joined a choir in middle school. Her family even traveled with her to Cleveland to support her in competitions.
Jones has made lifelong friends in the Voices in Harmony group, traveling with them on cruises to the Caribbean and other tropical destinations.
“Singing is what brings us together, but I think the friendships far outweigh the music,” Jones says. “I think the friendships are important and what keeps people in the group.”
Jones says it has been a challenge helping to direct a chorus with 70 members. With their ages ranging from 12 to 80, this multigenerational group brings together a wide range of opinions that work into decisions like which songs to sing and what costumes to wear.
“I think we definitely learn from each other by having women of different ages,” Jones says.
The choir has grown closer by going through its share of hardship together. Five years ago its director died of cancer, and as assistant director Jones was charged with finding her replacement. As more of a wallflower, Jones says she didn’t want to be the one in the spotlight directing, but she took on the challenge of auditioning potential directors and eventually chose Lynne Erskine Peirce.
Though this process was difficult for Jones, taking on a leadership role and overcoming those challenges provided her a great opportunity for personal growth, she says.
“It is not an understatement to say that the growth and health of the chorus would not have been possible without Jennifer’s leadership,” Peirce says.
The weekly Spotlight features staff members at the university. To nominate a candidate, please contact the Record staff at [email protected].
