On Tuesday, March 28, the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park Choirs performed in the Gloria Logan Auditorium for their Festival Showcase Concert at 7 p.m. Each year, the choir program participates in MSVMA Choral Festival where each choir is scored, from poor to superior, on their performing and sight reading abilities. This concert was a showcase of what each choir sang at Festival.

“Festival is always a great experience,” said Amber Mero, Salem sophomore and member of Dulcissima. “You get to hear other choirs and have them hear you. Along with that, you get to better yourselves as a choir with the results and tips given.”

Allegro!, the intermediate female choir, opened the show. Under the direction of Jonathan Lunneberg, Associate Director, they sang “Camino Caminante,” by Stephen Hatfield and “Heart, We Will Forget Him!” a poem by Emily Dickinson that Laura Farnell turned into a beautiful song. The girls began “Camino Caminante” a capella (without music). Throughout the song, choir members started playing percussion instruments with the piano.

Mary Pettovello

Next was Park Singers, the beginner female choir, under the direction of Jennifer Neumann, Director of Choirs. They sang “Dance With Me” by Davidson and “A Festive Madrigal” by William Gooch. Park Singers sang with crisp diction and clear notes.

Dulcissima, the intermediate SSAA female choir, sang “I’m Gonna Sing ‘Til the Music Moves in My Heart,” written by Moses Hogan and arranged by Peter Eklund, under the direction of Neumann. Lunneberg directed “Crossing the Bar,” a poem by Alfred Tennyson with music by Gwyneth Walker. Dulcissima sang “I’m Gonna Sing ‘Til the Music Moves in My Heart” beautifully. The song was very intriguing due to the large range of notes and perfect harmonies. The highest note, a C above the staff, was sung by Rachel Medley, Plymouth senior. Medley and a few other members sounded like they had their own part, different from the soprano and alto parts, in the high range. Dulcissima scored 107 out of 120, an excellent, at Festival.

Parksmen, the male beginners choir, sang “As Beautiful as She” by Eugene Butler and “Vive La Compagnie,” a traditional song arranged by Ruth Artman. Both songs were under the direction of Neumann. Parksmen sang each song with great excitement.

Encore!, the show choir that sings songs from Broadway, did not have to opportunity to perform at Festival along with the other choirs due to the fact that they do not meet the criteria of a traditional choir. Under the direction of Lunneberg, they sang “Detour Ahead” by Herb Ellis and arranged by Lunneberg and “Just One of Those Things” by Cole Porter arranged by Roger Emerson. Clever choreography for Encore!’s second song was done by members Sydney Bramlett, Canton junior, Katherine Greene, Plymouth senior and Ellie Simon, Plymouth senior.

Chamber Singers, the advanced male choir directed by Neumann, sang “The Vagabond” by R.L. Stevenson and Ralph Vaughan Williams and “Dirait-on” by Ranier Rilke and Morten Lauridsen. Chamber’s first song was a capella. Their second song was in French and had a beautiful melody. Chamber scored 111 out of 120 (excellent) at Festival. “Although we were one off of superior, we still did well, and I’m proud of my boys,” said Josh Raiford, Canton senior and member of Chamber.

Madrigal Singers, the advanced female choir also under the direction of Neumann, sang “Danny Boy,” an Irish folk song arranged by Dede Duson, and “Northern Lights” which had lyrics from the Song of Solomon and music by Ola Gjeilo. Both songs were a capella with tight harmonies. “Northern Lights” was sung in Latin. Madrigal Singers scored a 110 out of 120 (excellent) at Festival.

Festival Singers, the combination of Chamber and Madrigals, sang “Dúlamán,” a traditional Irish melody arranged by David Mooney, and “Sure on This Shining Night,” by James Agee and Morten Lauridsen. Their second song started with just Chamber singing, the low notes sending chills down the audience’s spins, and Madrigals joined in part way through creating great harmony between the two groups. Festival Singers earned a 118 out of 120, a superior score, at Festival.

Raiford said, “[From] being in choir for the past three years…I’ve found a place where I feel like I really belong and people who taught me that I matter and can be a part of something bigger.”

Mary Pettovello