The soprano section of the Voices of Faith Christian youth choir sings during practice at Calvary Baptist Church in Tyler Wed. Feb. 3, 2016. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

It was only the warm up, but the sounds coming from Calvary Baptist Church sanctuary could have been the crescendo of a Sunday service. 

Voices in harmony. Faces focused. 

It’s that determination, that desire for perfection, that drives the more than 70 students who gather for weekly practices. 

“Nice tall vowels,” artistic director and choir founder Pam Eikner instructs before the group launches into singing, “May we follow you.”

The satisfaction was clear in Eikner’s assessment after several other vocal drills. 

“Wow! We got down to a G,” she said enthusiastically.

While the group meets once a week during its 12-week sessions, individual members often put in several more hours each week on their time. 

It’s a dedicated – and growing – group. 

When Mrs. Eikner started the Voices of Faith choir nine years ago; she was filling a need.

She felt like true choirs were becoming a dying breed as many churches moved to a worship team model where they had a band and a few lead singers, but no need for a choir.

Among the churches, such as hers, with an adult choir, there weren’t enough young people to form a youth choir.

Enter Voices of Faith. With the support of her church, Fifth Street Presbyterian in Tyler, and 12 students, Mrs. Eikner started a community Christ-centered youth choir program.

Her idea was for young people to learn choral skills and discipline and strengthen their faith in the process.

“I’ve just seen it really provide an opportunity for young people who really have a heart to glorify the Lord through their musical gifts and talents,” said Mrs. Eikner, whose primary job is as director of orchestras and choirs at Cumberland Academy Middle School, though she also is the director of music at Fifth Street Presbyterian Church. “It’s also given them an opportunity to really minister in the community, go out in the community.”

The choir has grown to 70 and 80 students ages 13 and older per semester.

Two years ago, Mrs. Eikner started Voices of Hope, a preparatory choir for 10- to 12-year-olds under direction of Shari Smith. It has about 20 members.

The Voices of Faith choir sings classical music from all time periods and is open to performing any genre of music, but they try to stick within a Christian text, Mrs. Eikner said.

She wants the lyrics to be God-honoring, though they don’t necessarily have to mention God or be considered “a sacred song.”

“Our goal is to honor God through our music and our character,” Mrs. Eikner said.

It’s in part this desire that has drawn some of the students into the choir and kept them enjoying the experience.

Keylee Smith, 18, a home-schooled student from Bullard, is a five-year choir member. It was through her best friend that she found out about the choir. She joined. She said the music has really touched her because they often sing scripture in their songs.

“I feel like these songs that we sing at times help us remember the scripture, and our concerts help minister to people through the music about scripture and God,” she said.

In addition, she said through the choir she’s made meaningful friendships and has been able to share not only social times but also spiritual experiences such as prayer and Bible reading with her peers.

“I feel like everybody is very friendly,” she said. “Everybody knows each other. It’s just a wonderful opportunity to fellowship and minister.”

Although Mrs. Eikner did not plan for it, about 90 percent of the students in the choir are home schooled.

Unlike public and private school students, who typically have choirs at their schools, home-school students do not.

Home-school mom Brynn Anderson, whose daughter, Emmy, 16, a junior, is in the choir, said the experience has been an unbelievable blessing for Emmy.

“It’s been such a tool for growth for her,” Mrs. Anderson said. “She’s grown in self-confidence.”

Prior to joining the choir two years ago, Emmy, of Bullard, wouldn’t even sing with her mother in the car even though she loved music. Now, though, she sings all the time in front of everybody, Mrs. Anderson said.

Through her participation in the choir, Emmy said she has learned teamwork and how to read music. She also has expanded her vocal range, having started out at alto and moved to first soprano.

The camaraderie she has built is one of her favorite aspects of the choir, she said.

“I really do love the community part of it, that we all are working toward something we all love,” Emmy said.

Apart from the students, their parents see the choir as an opportunity for their children to interact with others, minister to the community and grow personally.

“Mrs. Eikner is such a great Christian example,” choir parent Lisa Byrd said. “It’s very much an iron sharpening iron situation for our kids.”

Mrs. Eikner said the choir has become everything she hoped for and more.

“I never expected the students to get to the level (they are),” she said. “They are singing collegiate repertoire and doing well. It’s actually exceeded my expectations, for sure.”

And she is not the only one who is impressed. She said audience response is always positive. People seem to appreciate the good choral music, and beyond that, the young people performing.

“There’s just a spirit within these kids that it really touches people’s hearts when they sing,” she said. “It moves people. They inspire people. They move people. I just feel so blessed that I’ve been able to be their director for these eight or nine years.”

Twitter: @TMTEmily