The Baker University speech choir, an extension of the forensics team, is a group of 14 students who perform recitations of poetry, prose and other literary works at many events in the area.

Professor of Mass Media and Communication Susan Emel is the head coach of the speech choir. The team’s assistant coach, Russell Taylor, is a Baker alumnus. Emel founded the program at Baker after her sabbatical in 2003.

“Baker is unique in having the group,” Emel said. “As far as I know, no other school with forensics has a speech choir.”

The speech choir’s appearances include events commemorating Women’s History Month, Black History Month, Alumni Week, Family Day, Founder’s Day, International Week and other events. The team also frequently recites scripture during worship services at Baker and other area churches.

“We average about five performances a semester,” speech choir member LaTasha Roberts said.

Emel said while the team’s main purpose is to appear at Baker events, the group also performs at venues outside of Baker’s campus.

“We perform whenever we are requested, within reason,” Emel said. “As long as we don’t already have something going on, we will put together a performance for almost any event.”

Junior Machelle Bryan said she has attended the speech choir’s performances in the past.

“I enjoy watching the speech choir’s performances,” Bryan said. “It’s a unique way to present information to make it interesting to the public.”

Speech choir members are responsible for finding their own material to perform at events. The group also performs works written by its own members.

“The performance at the president’s inauguration is really important to me because I wrote one of the poems we are performing,” junior Kelly Vaughan said. “That makes it really special.”

The group members practice together one or two times a week, depending on how much work is needed before their next performance.

“One thing I love about the team is our versatility,” Roberts said. “We can put together a lot of performances in a short amount of time. If we need more work though, our coaches drive back to Baker to practice with us. It’s really nice of them.”

The speech choir is scheduled to appear at a university forum event coordinated by Associate Professor of Music Susan Buehler. The event will take place in February.

“That performance will be particularly interesting because the speech choir is going to appear along with a musical choir group,” Emel said. “It will be an interesting combination.”

Emel said she recruits potential students to join the forensics team and speech choir. She said some of the team’s members are former students from her oral communication classes.

“Sometimes if I see a student who is doing exceptionally well in the class, I talk to them about joining the team,” she said. “We do not have any prerequisites for joining besides an interest.”

Roberts said she got involved in the speech choir during her sophomore year, although she was involved in forensics throughout high school.

“I am very glad to be a part of such a wonderful group,” she said. “For me, the best part is the interaction with my teammates. They have such a great, positive energy.”