If you sometimes hear strains of a better-than-expected hymn wafting through the air at the Cathedral of Hope, it’s probably not your imagination. Juan Rodriguez (baritone) and Aaron Alarcon (tenor) are both members of the COH … and both classically trained vocalists. Music is a passion for both.
But they are also equally passionate about the Little Blue Schools Project, a charity of the COH that seeks to better the community of Reynosa, Mexico, through its ministry. If only they could combine the two…
Of course, that’s exactly what they did. Rodriguez and Alarcon not only wanted to make music, they wanted to make it together, so they launched The Baritenor Project (drawn by combining their vocal ranges) to make a recording, proceeds of which are intended to benefit Little Blue Schools as well as the cathedral’s music ministry.
Getting launched took some money itself, though. That’s when the two began an online campaign through USAProjects.org, an online fundraising site akin to Kickstarter. Their goal was $6,500; last month, they closed the campaign having raised more than $7,600.
Now of course comes the hard part: Recording the album. COH’s directed of television and media ministries, Jerry King, is working with the duo to secure the rights to the songs. They hope to begin recording soon.
