WATCH: Royal Oak Young Men Inspired by Top Choral Clinician

Renowned choral director Dr. Derrick Fox coached Royal Oak School's first district-wide Men's Choir at Royal Oak Middle School Friday morning.  

"They did a great job today," said Fox, an assistant professor of choral music education and choral conducting in the Ithaca College School of Music in New York.  "If you had heard them at beginning, compared to where they are now, it's amazing the difference. I think that it speaks to their enthusiasm for music."

It's the first time the district has pulled together male students in grades six through 12, according to Royal Oak Middle School Choir Director Diane Mehringer. Approximately 80 students participated in the clinic with Fox.

"Dr. Fox taught us a lot of stuff that we don't know," said Royal Oak High School senior Calvin Brown. "Every year we slowly add on information and each clinician teaches us different stuff. It's just really interesting to have someone from out of state, who has never heard us sing, teach us things that we would never have known before."

The clinic was the best way to get the middle school and high school together, Mehringer said.

"My guys will never sound the same at the middle school because now they understand it's OK to sing out and it's really cool to sing with all your friends. To have them create a sound like they did today, we are amazed."

Having boys of different age levels come together and perform is somewhat unusual, according to Mehringer.

"They can sing," said Brown of the younger boys. "It's nice to have power. At the high school, the boys' section is kind of small so we have to sing really loud. Having the middle school sing with us takes some of the strain off us."

Fox chose "Sing for Joy" and "Who are the Brave" for the young men to sing.

"I get to come in and have fun," Fox said. "The teachers here do all the hard work."

Fox said the students really stepped up and tried to assimilate all the concepts he gave them in a short period of time.

"That they could do it in two hours is just really impressive. I'm glad to have been here," he said.

You can hear the newly formed Men's Choir at the All-City Vocal Festival at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at Royal Oak High School. The event is free and open to the public.