Music teachers having great fun at the Fifth Grade Honors Chorus Festival.
Rowan-Salisbury Schools’ Fifth-Grade Honors Chorus under the direction of Sally Albrecht.
Making Music and Memories
Congratulations to the Rowan-Salisbury Schools’ Fifth-Grade Honors Chorus for a fabulous performance during their recent festival at West Rowan High School in Mt Ulla, NC. Approximately 200 fifth-grade students filled the auditorium on March 14th with melodies that made friends and family proud.
Twelve years ago, music teachers, Beth Yelvington and Lucy Shue had the vision for a county-wide fifth-grade Honors Chorus. Taking the initiative to write a grant for necessary funding for music, transportation, food, and a clinician, they applied for a Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation grant. After receiving the grant and with a successful festival that first year, they reapplied, continuing the tradition for a total of eleven festivals.
Students who want to be a member of the fifth-grade Honors Chorus must first audition at their individual schools. When chosen they are given a selection of music to memorize and learn. Music teachers practice with their students, usually after school, on technique and musicality. The first practice with the entire Honors Chorus is from noon to 5:00 the Friday before the Saturday performance. Held at a local high school under the direction of a professional clinician, students learn phrasing, blending voices, harmony, and choreography. Although tired from a Friday practice, students arrive Saturday morning, excited and ready for a full day, knowing the concert performance is that afternoon. The progress they make in just two days is amazing. It’s almost like a transformation of individuals joining together as one for a performance of a lifetime.
Sally Albrecht, an internationally known choral composer, conductor, and clinician was chosen as the clinician for the first festival because of her knowledge and expertise working with this age group. Achieving high expectations of musicality in a way children can understand and yet have fun in the process, Sally set the standard so high that first year she has been the clinician of choice for the majority of the festivals since then.
When asking Beth what her favorite part of the process has been through the years, she said seeing the enthusiasm of the students. Pausing for a minute, she then said, “Although tired from practicing five hours on the first day, students still are willing to get up the next morning and give it their all. The performance is just the icing on the cake.”
Having had the opportunity to be a part of the Honors Chorus in previous years as a music teacher for the Rowan-Salisbury Schools, I know what Beth is talking about. The look in each child’s eyes as they perform on stage for family and friends is pure joy. Even though it is hard work, the effort is so worth it. Students never forget that one shining moment, and who knows, that could be the catalyst for a future career in music and the dream lives on.
Were you a member of a chorus or band? What are your favorite memories? Leave a comment below, message on Facebook or email dicysm@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Dicy
www.dicymcculloughbooks.com/blog
Great job teachers and students!
Rowan-Salisbury Honors Chorus always does a great job. They couldn’t do it without great teachers, parents and an awesome clinician in Sally Albrecht.