Finding Community in Chorus
THE SPARTAN DISCHORDS
In 2023, Michigan State University had an enrollment of over 50,000 students. Finding a community is difficult when coming into a new university, especially when you are worried about acceptance. Micheal Soverinsky, a 20-year-old from Farmington Hills, was facing this exact problem as a freshman on campus. His sister helped him find a group that she thought he would enjoy.
“So, my sister sent these audition flyers to me and was like you should try this, and I was like okay what the heck? Like what do I have to lose?” Soverinsky said. The group he was auditioning for was the Spartan Dischords. The Spartan Dischords are the oldest acapella group at MSU, recently celebrating their 40th anniversary in April of 2022. Soverinsky did a few rounds of auditions and was accepted into the group his second semester freshman year.
“It was kinda just fate that I happened to get into this one [The Spartan Dischords],” Soverinsky remarked as he went over the auditioning process. Soverinsky had tried to join other groups with people from his high school before getting into this group and it did not work out as well as he would have hoped.
“So, my sister sent these audition flyers to me and was like you should try this, and I was like okay what the heck? Like what do I have to lose?” Soverinsky said. The group he was auditioning for was the Spartan Dischords. The Spartan Dischords are the oldest acapella group at MSU, recently celebrating their 40th anniversary in April of 2022. Soverinsky did a few rounds of auditions and was accepted into the group his second semester freshman year.
“It was kinda just fate that I happened to get into this one [The Spartan Dischords],” Soverinsky remarked as he went over the auditioning process. Soverinsky had tried to join other groups with people from his high school before getting into this group and it did not work out as well as he would have hoped.
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Vidalia Wenzlick
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Keerthi Morisetty
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Wenrui Cai
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Alexis Morton
Vidalia Wenzlick
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Keerthi Morisetty
Emily Ziessman
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Wenrui Cai
Emma Conwell
Sydney Porada
Data Visualization
Alexis Morton
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“Something will always come along, and if it doesn't, make something yourself."
Micheal Soverinsky
Member, The Spartan Dischords
“Coming from high school knowing people who wanted to join the same group and it didn’t go my way. It was rough and it put me in a rough patch for my first year,” Soverinsky said. The Spartan Dischords helped to change that though.
“This group is very unique in the sense that it's a group of people that are there for each other. [...] There’s people of all sexualities, races, religions in this group. It’s just a space you can be yourself.” Soverinsky Said. The organization he joined before the Dischords was difficult for him because he experienced some homophobia from the group. In The Spartan Dischords he doesn’t worry about people accepting his sexual identity.
“It’s definitely gotten better because I have found a place where I am comfortable to be myself, and a place where people don’t judge or don’t want me because of my sexuality, “said Soverinsky, “Like I said there are other gay people in the group, and we don’t care who you are or what you come from as long as you're yourself and you have a good time.”
“This group is very unique in the sense that it's a group of people that are there for each other. [...] There’s people of all sexualities, races, religions in this group. It’s just a space you can be yourself.” Soverinsky Said. The organization he joined before the Dischords was difficult for him because he experienced some homophobia from the group. In The Spartan Dischords he doesn’t worry about people accepting his sexual identity.
“It’s definitely gotten better because I have found a place where I am comfortable to be myself, and a place where people don’t judge or don’t want me because of my sexuality, “said Soverinsky, “Like I said there are other gay people in the group, and we don’t care who you are or what you come from as long as you're yourself and you have a good time.”
The Spartan Dischords' Valentine's Day concert, "Hearts &Homies" program placed on a piano in East Lansing, MI. Photo by Keerthi Morisetty
MSU Student, Michael Soverinsky, performing a solo with the support of other members of the Spartan Dischords on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 in East Lansing, MI. Photo by Keerthi Morisetty
The Spartan Dischords have four big performances a year. First is Aquapalooza and then the Christmas Showcase, after that is the Valentines show in February and the Final performance of the year is called the Big Show. They also perform at other various events sometimes for Greek life and have even performed at the Breslin Center half time show during basketball season.
“But what’s great about the group is that it is such a big alumni network, you will know people from all around the world, thousands of Dischords [...] who are all in our Facebook (Meta) group and always offer advice,” Soverinsky said when asked about some of the benefits of the group.
The group is always looking for new members and has open auditions during the year.
“We’re always looking for new members,” says Soverinsky, “Even if you are not very good at singing, come out and audition, we love it.”
“But what’s great about the group is that it is such a big alumni network, you will know people from all around the world, thousands of Dischords [...] who are all in our Facebook (Meta) group and always offer advice,” Soverinsky said when asked about some of the benefits of the group.
The group is always looking for new members and has open auditions during the year.
“We’re always looking for new members,” says Soverinsky, “Even if you are not very good at singing, come out and audition, we love it.”
Caption: MSU Student, Michael Soverinsky, performing a solo with the support of other members of the Spartan Dischords on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 in East Lansing, MI. Photo by Keerthi Morisetty
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Sharing stories of belonging, inspiration, and community.
SUB[CULTURE] is a multimedia project researched, pitched, produced, and distributed by the JRN 410: Advanced Photojournalism class at the Michigan State University (MSU) - School of Journalism. After narrowing their story topic to subcultures, our visual journalists decided to take a closer look at what makes Michigan State University a special place of belonging for the 50,000+ students enrolled and the communities that support our fellow Spartans. This semester, the subculture we explored was our LGBTQ+ student community. Explore more of their stories by clicking the links below.
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