Once a U Singer, always a U Singer.
The motto is just one of many things that makes the Bob Jones University Singers special. The University Singers, or U Singers, are the roughly 75–100-person choir for first year students of all majors, led by music faculty members Dr. Pattye Casarow and Dr. Kenon Renfrow. The U Singers are recognized around campus for their concerts as well as lunches, dinners, merchandise, and most notably, singing in the lighting ceremony. They tend to be close with a strong sense of community and identity. But what makes this group so special?
Many first-year students join the U Singers because of their love of music and their desire to meet new people.
“I joined because I love to sing, especially with others, and I was told it was the best way to meet people as a freshman,” said Abby Snyder, a 2022-23 U Singer.
The people and memories are the same reasons that she, and many others, continued and returned for a second semester with the choir. Kelsey Campbell, a 2023-24 U Singer cited the same reasons.
“I stayed because of the friends I had and the fun memories,” Campbell said.
The energy and atmosphere of U Singers is different from that of other choirs on campus. Campbell said U Singers was different from Chorale because of “more fun aspects rather than the non-stop go of the other choirs.”
The motto, “Once a U Singer, always a U Singer,” is repeated at the end of each concert on campus just before they sing their closing benediction. Previous U Singers’ in attendance are invited to stand and sing along each semester as the concert closes. The phrase has a special meaning to those students.
“It means that once you have been through a semester as a singer you can uniquely relate to anyone else who has ever been one,” said Ethan Wright, member and treasurer for the 2021-22 U Singers.
“To me, it means that no matter what year I am, I will always be welcome,” Campbell said.
The U Singers next perform on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in Stratton Hall. Their concert is titled “A Gift to Sing” and is free to attend.
Dr. Casarow • Nov 12, 2025 at 8:48 pm
Thank you for the love, William! Great read! My favorite: “To me, it means that no matter what year I am, I will always be welcome.” YES! Even if you’re in year 28 or more!”
Did you mention you speak from experience? It was great to have you in the choir too!