The Oxford High School and Middle School vocal ensembles and soloists received superior ratings at the Michigan School Vocal Music Association District and Solo Ensemble Festival on Saturday, Feb. 6.
The event, held at Lapeer East High School, featured more than 20 high schools competing for the chance to move on to State Festival on March 26 and 27.
‘It was a great day and it shows the growth in our vocalists that is going on in our program,? said Chris Card, choir director at OHS.
He added that he was encouraged to see a sign that the students are ready for state level competition. ‘The kids are going in the right direction with their development, and to do well at a district event just shows that we have taken the steps necessary to become qualified on a state level.?
Over 60 students competed at the event. At the event’s conclusion, two OHS ensembles received superior ratings, the advanced woman’s vocal ensemble Caritas and the eighteen voice Men’s Ensemble.
Caritas performance earned them straight one ratings, one of the highest honors a vocal ensemble can receive at a preformance.
In addition to the two ensembles, 13 soloists also received superior ratings: Alex Anderson, Samantha Anderson, Sunny Bogert, Molly Bruner, Lauren Chapman, Madeline Dickens, Kate Maloney, Natalie Musgrove, Adam Silorey, Mallory Skilling, Ashly Sovis and Alexis Straub.
Card noted that Caritas and Men’s Ensemble heading to states was the first step of the music programs goal to have the entire program compete at state festivals.
‘So far we are two-for-two,? he said.
The other four choirs, Men’s Choir, Women’s Choir, Chorale and Concert Choir, will be preforming for ratings at District Choral Festival on March 2 and 3.
‘We’re taking those steps to achieve excellence on district, state, national and international levels. We’re on that mission and this festival is an affirmation that the students are achieving excelling at this level,? he said.
The core music program has seen tremendous growth at the high school over the last three years. There were 63 students in the program three years ago, and currently there are over 150.
The ensembles and vocalists who preformed at the middle school level fared just as well. Overall, 10 students received superior ratings for their performances as members of a small ensemble, trio and soloists.
‘It was a very positive experience for the students,? said OMS Choir Director Jan Flynn. ‘The students were very well prepared. They were dedicated and focused to do their very best and it showed in the results.?
OMS Honors Choir vocalists Claire Agar, Samantha Casey, Jaclyn Duronio and Alyson Ryskamp received a superior rating as a small ensemble. The trio of Agar, Jessica Matusz and Jaime Saleski and the duet of Gabby Barber and Riley Brantly also received a superior rating, as well as soloists Casey, Duronio, Taylor Shick, Matusz and Hope McCool.
The students prepared two pieces of a contrasting nature that was ‘meant to show off the beauty of the human voice.?
‘It’s not a Broadway tune, it’s not a pop tune, it is an art song,? said Flynn.
The community will have the chance to hear the choirs preform their festival music at upcoming festival concerts at the High School Preforming Arts Center.
The high school festival concert will be on Thursday, March 4 beginning at 7 p.m., while the middle school festival concert will be on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
There is no cost to attend either performance.