Carolyn Mawby was a college music student when a touring high school choir showed her what vocal music could do. She never forgot it. In the 1970s, she turned that moment into the Chamber Choir Invitational, a tradition that has drawn generations of area singers to the University of Michigan-Flint. Later this month, the event will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The celebratory concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Court Street United Methodist Church, with area high school choirs joining the UM-Flint Chamber Singers and a special alumni performance. Admission is $5 cash at the door; students with a valid MCard get in free.

“For 50 years, this invitational has brought together high school singers, current students and alumni through a shared artistic experience,” said Abby Parrill-Baker, UM-Flint provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “That tradition reflects UM-Flint’s 70-year role as an integral part of the greater Flint community. Events like this strengthen relationships, bring people together and contribute to the vibrancy and quality of life that make our community strong. The university is proud to support this invitational as part of our long-standing commitment to enriching our community.”

Carolyn Mawby, who passed away in 2014, led UM-Flint’s choral program and started the invitational in the 1970s. Gene Coburn, a 1979 UM-Flint music education graduate who sang at the early events, said her interest in high school singers began when she watched a touring high school choir as a college music student.

“She said she was blown away, literally,” Coburn said. “I think that’s when she realized that this is what’s possible with high school kids and the choral bug bit her. As a result, her passion and love for choral music created grand memories for so many.”

One benefit of a community event like this is that it allows choirs to learn from one another.

“Choirs need to hear other choirs. Choirs need to listen to other choirs,” Coburn said. “So the Invitational wasn’t just about performance; it was also a learning experience.”

Coburn, who later started the New Century Chorale in Flint, said his experience with Mawby shaped him. “She was really, truly a mentor of mine,” he said. “Singing and performing in her groups made an impact on how I conduct my choirs today. Carolyn had a level of excellence that I continue to strive towards”

For a time, the invitationals included weekend retreats at a camp near Flint, where high school singers worked alongside UM-Flint students in preparation for their performances. Jared Leuck, a 1993 UM-Flint music education graduate who now directs choirs at Swartz Creek High School, recalled the experience as a chance for younger singers to see what collegiate music programs expect.

“There were up to 70 students there, and we were supposed to be role models for the high school kids,” Leuck said. “The music selected was often quite demanding because Carolyn tried her best to give the high school kids a realistic sampling of what college music is going to be like.”

Before attending UM-Flint, Leuck hadn’t sung in his high school choirs. That’s until Mawby stepped in. “She heard me singing on campus one day, and she didn’t ask me; she just told me, ‘You’re going to join the Chamber Singers.’

“I’m grateful, as it certainly has shaped my career and my life — I met my wife as part of the invitational,” he said.

Gabriela Hristova, associate professor of music and conductor of the UM-Flint Chamber Singers, has led the invitational for the past 19 years, ensuring the tradition remains strong and the legacy continues in Flint. “The majority of the choirs participating in the event are led by my former students,” she said. “One of our accompanists, Daniel Schmit, was one of my first students in 2007; he is now a member of the music faculty and his daughter is in the Powers Catholic High School choir, which will be joining the invitational this year.”

Leuck brings his Swartz Creek Madrigals to the Invitational each year. “I’m huge on tradition, and the event gives our students something to look forward to,” he said. “Since it’s so early in the academic year, it inspires them to jump in and work hard early on, which kind of sets the tone for the rest of the year.”

With top singers from each high school performing together, it can inspire friendly rivalry. “I think it’s a moment for our students to recognize that they may be really good, but so are other students, and so it’s a good reality check,” Leuck said.

The connections made at the invitational during high school often carry over into college. “Some of my Swartz Creek students have gone on to enroll at UM-Flint, walking in with friends from the event, and they just step right in,” said Leuck.

Aidan Loos, a senior music education major from Durand, first sang at the invitational as a junior with the Durand Madrigals. His teacher, Jessica Delay, is a UM-Flint alum who has served as both a student and a director.

“That was my first experience doing anything with a mass choir, which was incredible,” Loos said. “I love any time I get to sing with a large group of people.”

During the invitational, Loos spends the day with the high schoolers. “We act as anchors for them, so if they’re struggling, we can help guide them in the right direction,” he said. “It’s also great for me, as a music education major, to meet and network with local teachers.”

On the day of the concert, singers rehearse together in the morning, and then attend clinics held by UM-Flint voice faculty in the afternoon. “It’s a great way for them to see what it’s like to be part of a college music program, and what to expect if they come to UM-Flint,” said Loos.

At lunch, university students lead the visitors to the Harding Mott University Center. “When possible, they’ll send a graduate from your school to lead you over there,” Leuck said. “Not many recent graduates come back to the high school to tell kids what it’s like to be at their university, so it’s a special experience.”

Coburn, who moved to Michigan’s west side in 2013, plans to make a special trip for the event. “This invitational is a testament to the community’s commitment to the arts, and shows that the arts are alive and well in Flint. The UM-Flint choral program has only continued to grow under Hristova’s direction, and I’m looking forward to celebrating that accomplishment with her and fellow alumni.”

Leuck said the event brings together schools that otherwise compete against each other in their sports programs. “We need things like this to help remind us that, ultimately, we are collaborative as a species,” he said. “The invitational is a way for us to connect across the community and build bridges. It’s really what the arts are there for.”