Matthew Oltman, music director for Chanticleer men's vocal ensemble from San Francisco, helped give a critique of the Transylvania Boys A Capella group during a workshop at Transylvania University on Friday. Members of the TBA are, from left, Bryan Mullins, Matt Bradley, Josh Motley, and Tucker Montgomery. Photos by David Stephenson | Staff.

After the Transy Boys A Cappella ensemble finished singing, Chanticleer music director Matt Oltman considered their performance of O Little Town of Bethlehem and asked, “What language was that in?”

It was a comment worthy of Simon Cowell, though it lead to a much more constructive critique of the Transylvania University ensemble than most American Idol contestants ever receive.

Chanticleer was on the Transylvania campus Friday for a sold-out 7:30 p.m. concert at Haggin Auditorium. It is the second show in the school’s Dorothy J. and Fred K. Smith Endowed concert series that brings world class ensembles to campus for free performances. It started last year with an October 2007 concert by Kronos Quartet.

As an added bonus to Transy music students, the visiting artists have made time to conduct master classes, though the Transy Boys couldn’t be blamed if there were moments the Chanticleer workshop didn’t feel like much of a bonus.

Transy student Kris Olson, second from right and a member of the Transy Boys A Capella group, sang alongside members of the Chanticleer: Alan Reinhardt, Gabriel Lewis-O'Connor, and Eric Alatorre.

“They looked scared to death,” said music professor Gary Anderson. “But if they handled it, I knew they’d be better for it.”

Over approximately 45 minutes, the 12 Chanticleer singers and Oltman deconstructed the Transy ensemble’s diction, breathing technique and performance style.

“This is tricky, because you have some really bad habits you’ve gotten into that are going to be hard to break,” Oltman said. “But that’s why we’re here.”

So, soprano Gregory Peebles talked about working with wide-mouthed Southern vowels, alto Alan Reinhardt demonstrated how to sing from the lower abdomen to get a flowing legato sound, and baritone Gabriel Lewis-O’Connor told them to have fun.

“In a way, we’ve scared the character out of these guys,” Lewis-O’Connor said toward the end of the critique. “This is all about singing together and having fun. I swear, if you would smile while you’re singing, that would take care of 50 percent of this.”

Though the session was tough, the Transy Boys appreciated it.

“It was a lot of things we hadn’t thought about,” said Matt Campbell, 21, a senior from Indianapolis. “It was great to get an outside perspective and focus on things we hadn’t focused on before.”

And the ultimate message from Chanticleer to the Transy Boys was it was worth the effort to improve.

“You know, you are hearing from 12 of the most opinionated people in the world,” tenor Todd Wedge said. “But you guys are great, and I think you need to perform more. Whether it’s at a mall or a nursing home, get out there and perform.”

If TBA takes the advice, Chanticleer’s ultimate gift to Lexington may be more men’s choir music.