ABSTRACT
The West Side Choir served a sizeable migrant and immigrant Hispanic population, and the neighborhood in which it was situated was a thriving Puerto Rican enclave. The majority of West Side families were classified in the lowest two of six income brackets for the choir’s tiered tuition program, with their combined annual family income falling at or below $45,000. One of the most vibrant manifestations of Mr. James Moses’s personal practical knowledge occurred as he was selecting repertoire for a concert designed to engage the Puerto Rican community in which the West Side Choir was situated. The organizational structure of the West Side Choir exemplified another discourse norm commonly associated with choirs: a hierarchical structure in which students progressed from non-auditioned to more selective ensembles. Students sang Bulgarian music with its characteristically bright timbre, classical music with a pure, light, Western European sound, and gospel with a soulful sound and more extensive use of chest voice.
