First love

Josh Setren has a soul for music

MONTICELLO, NY—It is commonly thought that a person may find solace within the confines of a church; no one said anything about discovering a tenor in love with his craft.

But that is what you find when you meet Josh Setren. Setren has participated in the Sullivan County Community Chorus at the Presbyterian Church of Monticello for the past three years. The chorus performs several times a year under the direction of David Trombley, choral director of Ellenville High School.

For an 18 year old, Setren has a lot on his plate.

There is the full load of freshmen classes at Sullivan County Community College, the grocery stock clerk position at Shop-Rite in Monticello and the elder position at the Presbyterian Church, where Setren is responsible for readying the church for Sunday services.

But it’s his love for music that gets his blood flowing.

Asked why he joined the thirty-year-old chorus that was founded by Martin Banner, currently director of choral music at Monticello High School, Setren said, “It’s just another outlet to sing.” Setren, who has been singing since elementary school, says the experience of participating with the 40 16-to-80-year-old chorus members, all with different levels of experience, has had a maturing affect.

Singing, for Setren, is a family affair. He joined the chorus shortly after his father, Luis, re-joined after an absence dating back from college.

Luis, too, grew up in a musical family. “I had parents with a musical background and incredible singing voices,” he said. “I am thrilled to be back [in the chorus] and even more thrilled that Josh has joined. I am only disappointed that my father couldn’t sing with us.” The elder Setren passed away six years ago.

Father and son have similar singing styles. “People have said that if my dad and I are singing, and they close their eyes, they can’t tell the difference,” Setren said.

Setren is currently studying Liberal Arts with aspirations of transferring to a four-year state school to certify in history education.

“I’ve always liked history. It comes easily to me, and I like politics,” he said.

Musically, Setren has learned how to play the trumpet, is a member of the Bell Choir at his church and has learned Latin, an accomplishment that has aided in singing the medley of 18th- and 19th-century Latin choral works performed by the chior.

For a young man with the motto, “It could always be worse,” the words “stage fright” do not register.

“I don’t have a problem with stage fright–not in a group and not in the high school musical. When I do a solo in church, I’m a little shaky but I’m okay. I get anxious, but not nervous.

“There isn’t really anything hard about it,” said Setren. “Just getting all the words in, and pronunciation.”

Has Setren ever been too busy to sing?

“I thought about not coming back [because of school],” said Setren, but can’t imagine life without music.

When Setren is not practicing with the choir (and there were 12 two-hour rehearsals to prepare for the winter concert held on December 11), he’s hanging out with friends, playing video games, playing football and baseball and participating in additional church activities.

For this youth-in-focus, it’s about trying the unexpected and experiencing new things, but never abandoning your first love.