Trail hosts PMEA Region 4 chorus festival

BY PAT FARNELLI

A select group of local high school singers earned a place at the Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Association’s Region IV Chorus Festival, held Saturday atLackawannaTrailHigh Schoolauditorium.

Members of the chorus had auditioned during the recent PMEA District 8 and 9 chorus festivals, with judges selecting chorus members on the basis of their sight reading skills and music performance.

During rehearsal days earlier in the week, auditions were conducted for the state festival, which will be held inLancasterthis year.

Dr. Lynn Drafall of the Penn State Concert Choir was guest conductor for the concert.

Trail’s Jodi Rinehimer was host director, and Brandon Roote was the accompanist.

Abigail Valburg, a soprano 1, was featured on the cello for the opening piece, “Laudate Jehovam, Omnes Genes,” a setting of Psalm 17 in Latin by George Philipp Telemann.

“Ave Maria” followed, beginning in a very soft pianissimo and progressing to fortissimo in a very dynamic, expressive version of Anton Bruckner’s prayer.

“Coelos Ascendit Hodie” was a double choir piece, with the soprano 1, alto 1, tenor 1, and bass 1 singers forming one choir, with the soprano 2, alto 2, tenor 2, and bass 2 sections forming a second separate choir.

Next in the program were three poems by Robert Frost: “Pasture Spring, A Girl’s Garden,” and “The Road Not Taken, ” all composed by Randall Thompson.

“The Pasture” was performed by the male members of the choir and was beautifully harmonic. Next, “A Girl’s Garden,” a lively, sassy hoedown, was sung by the ladies, first in unison, followed by four-part harmony.

Two more modern pieces, “Sure on this Shining Night,” by Z. Randall Stroope, and  ” Water Night” by Eric Whitacre concluded the concert. “Sure….” had lyrics by poet James Agee and featured soprano soloist Lisa Rogali from Wallenpaupack,  while “Water Night” used dissonance to enhance its dream-like effect.

The concert ended with two rhythmic spirituals sung in many parts, “Rockin’ Jerusalem” and “Elijah Rock”, featuring the bass and alto 2 voices.

Local students performing at Regional Chorus included:

WyomingCounty:

Lackawanna Trail: Meredith Horwatt, alto 1; Molly Mattes, alto 1; Gabriella Sunseri, alto 2; Garrett Craig-Lucas, bass 2.

Tunkhannock: Stephanie Kridlo, soprano 2; Malcom Layaou, tenor 2; Randy Howell, bass 1; John Vito Powell, bass 2.

SusquehannaCounty:

Blue Ridge: Destiny Galu, soprano 1; Madison Button, soprano 2; Margaret Darrow, alto 2; Samuel Brush, tenor 1; Tama Galu, tenor 2; Warren Armondi, tenor 2; Alex Glover, bass 1, Michael Gatheny, bass 2.

ElkLake: Sarita Farnelli, alto 2.

ForestCityRegional: Eli Sauls, tenor 1.

Montrose Area: Jacob Kerbaugh, bass 1; Mike Roman, bass 1; Jacob Myers, bass 2.