Two Traverse City Area Public Schools choral groups will showcase their talent this weekend at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival in Kalamazoo.
The Traverse City Central Chorale and the Traverse City West Choral-Aires will perform at the two-day event, which features the best and brightest art students from around the state dancing, performing and playing in bands, orchestras and chamber ensembles. In addition, the festival will feature the work of outstanding creative writing and video production students.
"I just think it's very exciting that we worked really hard and I'm really glad that it all paid off and we were chosen to go," said Kelly Shugart, a junior at West and a first-year member of the Choral-Aires. "It will be really neat, especially to see the solos because they've all worked really hard, too; it's nice to hear new people."
The 16-member Choral-Aires just won the Kalamazoo gig at a regional State Solo and Ensemble Festival held in Traverse City two weeks ago. They topped small ensembles from Central High School as well as arch rivals Haslett and Okemos high schools for the honors. These schools swap top place around every year and work hard to be the one selected by a panel of judges.
"I think we have one of the hardest, if not the hardest, competitions at our site," noted Russ Larimer, choral director at West High School. "What most in Michigan would consider the four top choral schools, out of four [competition] sites throughout the state, just by circumstances we all happen to be at the same one."
"So it's always kind of a shoot out because they only pick one from the site," he added. "It's just really a strong spot in the state for vocal music and Jeff [Cobb, choral director at Central] and I like to keep them jumping."
The Central Chorale is one of two choirs performing during the Gala Concert Friday night, a two-hour run through of the top talent in the state. The group won the spot via a taped audition and members are eager to sing for arts students and educators from around the state.
"I think it's a pretty big honor to be selected," said Ian Rothney, a senior at Central and a member of the Chorale.
For Cobb, who is completing his ninth year of teaching at the school, the experience of the festival will be invaluable for his students.
"Just to be there and share it's dance, visual arts and all sorts of stuff is great," he noted.
Kristin Farley, a senior at Central and member of the school's Choral-Aires and Chorale, is pleased that the whole Chorale is going to the Michigan Youth Arts Festival.
"I think it's just cool because usually we spend a lot of time for Choral-Aires and other ensembles," she said. "But this is for the whole Chorale."
The festival will allow 70-plus singers to showcase the breadth of their repertoire as well as a variety of styles. The Chorale will perform three songs: "Cantique de Jean Racine," a slow, somber piece in French, "I Thank You God," an intricate modern piece, and the gospel number "Come Sing for Joy."
"These kids are facile enough that different literature and different repertoire really gives them an opportunity to grow as musicians," Cobb said.
Friday morning, West's Choral-Aires will present a piece by Brahms, "For He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee" from the sacred oratorio Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn and a piece entitled "My Soul Has been Anchored in the Lord," arranged by Moses Hogan.
"We do a ton of stuff by [Hogan,]" said Larimer of the modern American composer, arranger and pianist who died in 2003. "The kids always enjoy it."