Advanced Mixed Choir Concert Report

The music concert this review covers is the Plano Symphony’s rendition of the Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy in C minor and Symphony No. 9, The Choral, in D minor. The concert was held at a church in April 16, 2016, and it was a sold out performance. Since it was a night simply dedicated to Ludwig van Beethoven, the symphony titled the concert as “Best of Beethoven.”

It’s amazing to listen to musicians who do not normally play with each other come together and leave the audience in complete awe. That is exactly what happened on the day of Thursday November 26th 2014. The Bill Crothers Varsity Winds comprised of grade eleven and twelve students along with a few, talented grade tens went to listen to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra play. We travelled via a typical yellow school bus that took us to Roy Thomson Hall where we went right to the top level and took our seats. The seating seemed rather helpful because from a distance you could hear every instrument when you focused on it. It was beautiful. The band presented well with their “Penguin” like attire that was kind to the eyes. They appeared very organized,

On April 11th, 2017 in the Louis Armstrong Theatre, I attended the GVSU “University Band”. This up-beat ensemble lasted about 90 minutes; the talented students of GVSU’s university band joined together to perform multiple different songs ranging from a Waltz to a Dixieland Jamboree. All of the songs that the band played for the audience were all well-known, popular songs that they all enjoyed. Having the opportunity to attend this concert has opened new musical paths for myself and has allowed me to enjoy and kindly critique something that I perhaps would have never had the chance to otherwise.

I have truly loved the two years, and counting, that I have spent participating in the Phoenix Girls Chorus, PGC. In PGC there are five different levels of choir. From least to most experienced the choir levels are: Melodia, Harmonia, Dolce, Bella, and Cantabile. Last year and the year before I was in the Dolce choir and this year I promoted to Bella. In order to promote to another choir you must complete all the theory book requirements and master a special skill, such as sight reading.

For my concert report, I chose to attend a University Chambers Players performance. Within this classical genre of music, the pieces performed were all homophonic in texture and each melody introduced was supported by chordal accompaniment. All of the pieces performed ranged from an eighteenth to twentieth century time period, and furthermore, each performance employed the use of western world instruments, such as the piano, cello, violin, and viola.

On December 5th, the University High School Show Choir and Jazz Band performed. The show that the UHS Show Choir put on turned out to be fantastic. There were seven songs that the Show Choir performed, which varied from Ella Fitzgerald as well Broadway Musicals from Anything Goes, Gentleman Prefer Blondes, and Chicago. The first number was a song called “Anything Goes” from the 1934 musical Anything Goes, which was sung by soloist, Madelene Raneses. Madelene has very good potential in her singing as well as dancing. The dancing in this performance was greatly choreographed by Mylan Biltz. Furthermore, the concert moves on with their second number, which was Ella Fitzgerald’s minor, but lovely tune, “I Got Rhythm”. This song was performed

This year I am participating in the Area West Elementary Enrichment Band where I play the clarinet. I am proud of this because it is a large achievement in my passion, music. In grade 6 I was first introduced to the clarinet and instantly fell in love with it. Today I continue to play the same instrument. In Enrichment Band, I get to meet and play alongside other musicians who have the same passion and drive for music that I do. I also get to seek further learning opportunities within the band, such as the mc script I have received for the upcoming concert. Overall, the band is an excellent learning opportunity and I am truly privileged to have that opportunity available to me.

The UIC Vocal Jazz Ensemble started the performance first. The ensemble consisted of thirteen members, and they opened the performance with a Christmas carol. There were three males and four female soloists who were scat singing. The ending of the song was very cool when the male soloist said, “Better watch out now”. The song was very interesting and created a delightful atmosphere to start the performance along with the Christmas spirit. The second song that the ensemble performed was called “In the Mellow Tone” by Duke Ellington. They also took turn to sing solo and scat singing. The male singers also sung a little part without instrumental towards the end of the song. The next performance was a duet of the “Best Part” by Daniel Caesar and H. E. R.. The R&B song sounded very

On March 4th I went back home for the beginning of spring break to visit my high school, Smyrna High School. That weekend was I Love Smyrna School District Day where multiple events of all categories took place. I went there to see the performance of the music ensembles, but in particular to see my previous choir and how they were progressing. The choir was under its second year of instruction from one of the states most renowned instructors and the evolution of the choirs sound made that evident. Back when I was a senior the guys were vastly outnumbered so the female voice parts had to reduce their sound in order to create balance, but that wasn't enough since we only had roughly 5 tenors in an 80 person choir. This year was different though

On May 28, 2015, high school students Morgan Cassidy and Coralyn Whalen performed their self choreographed jazz duet, titled Clarity. Clarity is the story of two people in a very addicting relationship, that is completely hopeless, but continues to hold on to hope. Clarity, along with many other pieces performed in St. Theresa Catholic Secondary Schools dance recital, was an effective and eye catching piece that used distinct emotion throughout the entire song. The piece had very substantial timing issues, and minor technique issues, but overall, the piece demonstrated excellent partnership and promising potential.

I cannot believe what my eyes have witnessed. On February 24, 2017, I had the opportunity to volunteer and to witness a Stax Music Academy concert. Every year in February, the Stax Music Academy pays tribute to legendary music artist by performing some of the most iconic songs that were sung during the late 50’s - early 90’s. This year, the Stax Music Academy did an R&B concert based on the Stax Volt tour, which included people like, Otis Redding, The Barkays, The Staple singers, and more. This concert was sold out, and the crowd really enjoyed themselves.

“I want to start a flute choir!” Those words were the start of a new mission for me, an exciting journey to success, even though I hadn’t really thought through the process. When I transitioned to full-time PSEO during my junior year in high school, I had to drop band to make room for more classes in college. I missed the relationship I had with my fellow musicians, playing Disney songs for the elementary school children to inspire them to join band, and simply making music with friends. As a musician, playing solos is wonderful, but being part of a group develops even greater skills, such as adjusting intonation, pitch, and listening. I decided that if I couldn’t be in the band at my high school, I would initiate my own, smaller group.

In my opinion, in a children choir setting both the boys and girls voices sounds very similar. I think that the reason why the boys can sing at the range where the girls do sing is because they haven’t reach their puberty as yet and their larynx and vocal chord is small and thin. I felt that the texture of the choir was really thin and breathy. I can barely hear dynamics at all and it is because children cannot hear themselves well in a choir setting and tend to sing in a louder dynamic. I am so used to hearing 4-part voice (SATB) in a choir setting that sometimes it becomes very difficult to listen to some choirs performing with having the tenor and the bass line. I don’t mind listening to choir singing in unisons with very few movements but

The concert was Singer’s Choice performed by the Temple College Chorale. It took place on the fourth of April at 7:30 PM in the Temple College Auditorium PAC.

The second vocal ensemble of the night started out with a song which included a twelve bar blues, called “ I use to know you”. This performance consisted of the most combinations of solos of the night as well as using an improvising style. The entire band started all together which led to a Trumpet solo. Then Jose on the Sax did his solo followed by the pianist comping. Then the choir along with the band joined together to lead to a female solo which was particularly interesting since she was scatting. The second performance of this ensemble was “Spring can really hang you up the most” which consisted of 3/4 time and 4/4 time. This started with a female solo vocalist then a male one. The band as a whole played together and ended with a male solo scatting. The third and shortest performance of the night was a vocal acapella piece, “Love walked in” which was short and sweet. The fourth performance of the night was a Richmond Rogers piece. This had a rhythmic swing/salsa feel from the “Lady is a tramp”. This started with the rhythm section, with the male vocalist and horns. Then the female vocalist from the choir joined and concluded this piece. The fifth performance for the group was a sequel to voice stand an acapella piece by Greg Jaspers. This song started with the choir using their voices as the instruments altogether. The final performance of the night was one of