In
harmony — Ensemble members make commitment to achieve excellence
By
Tiffany Schwab
Staff
Writer
Music class is a mix of melodies and memories in the making for the students
in Stonewall Jackson High School’s vocal ensemble.
The teen-agers made both at April’s North American Music Festival, where
they won four trophies, taking top honors in two categories.
“I thought it was well-deserved,” said Wanda Boley, choral
director, who cried when she heard the announcements.
The students’ harmonies captured the judges’ attention on the French
number “Dirait-on,” “Shall I Compare Thee,” and “The
Turtledove.”
Competing against nearly 30 groups at the New York City festival, Stonewall
students won “Most Outstanding Choral Ensemble,” first place for
madrigal choir, first place for women’s choir and the sweepstakes prize.
The vocal ensemble is made up of 21 boys and girls, while the chamber
choir is made up of 23 girls – including one from the ensemble.
The singers are in contention for the festival’s MegaFest crystal trophy
award, an honor they won last year.
The award takes into account all performances in the North American Music
Festival, which last through June and includes events in New York, Toronto,
Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Boley said one of the judges, a professor at the prestigious Westminister
Choir College in New Jersey, complimented both the students for their strong
performance and Boley for her fine musical selections.
“I thought to myself, that is one of the greatest compliments another
conductor could pay me,” said Boley, who has taught at Stonewall since
1984.
“As a choral director you always hope that you are doing the best
you can possibly do,” Boley said. But, “it makes no difference
how well I want the kids to do, they have to have the desire also.”
Students agree that desire plays a huge role in vocal ensemble, which
is much more than a class to them.
“You really have to love music to be in this class,” said senior
Lyndsay Curtis.
Jessi Reighard, a junior, said music wasn’t a big part of her life, until
she joined the vocal ensemble. Now she is thinking of majoring in singing
or music business in college.
“I never really had much of a love for [music] before, but one you
come to Stonewall … it’s like a family,” Jessi said.
Students don’t confine their singing to the ensemble. There’s a few in
church choirs and rock bands, several participate in school plays, and there’s
always karaoke.
But commitment to the ensemble is required, and students have to schedule
their afterschool activities accordingly.
“If you want to be in, you have to take the commitment to take off
work,” said senior Alise Oakes, who works five days a week, except
on weeks with concert nights.
Love of singing is just half of it, though. The ensemble carries with
it a sense of prestige, students said.
In addition to competitions and concerts, students perform for local
civic groups and churches, and sometimes for younger students.
Junior Niki Chandler remembers listening to the vocal ensemble when she
was a middle-schooler.
“It was the most amazing sound,” Niki said. “I would get
shivers all over.”
She decided she wanted to be in the ensemble one day, and is now a member
of the group.
The vocal ensemble is also the school’s show choir, incorporating dance
moves and choreography into its performances.
Vocal ensemble class meets every other day, although Boley said she believes
singing is like a foreign language and ought to be practiced daily.
Her students wouldn’t mind the arrangement too much.
“She’s really been the best of all that I’ve had,” said junior
Nick Lodico, proclaiming Boley as the best music teacher he’s known since
he began performing at age 8.
“I do require an awful lot from them in this class, but they enjoy
it,” Boley said.
Members of the vocal ensemble will be performing in a Broadway review
May 18, 19 and 20 at the high school.
A concert of the entire ensemble is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on June 8
in the Stonewall High School auditorium. Admission to the concert is free.
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