Music of the night
Over three months have passed since Northwood chorus students first received some of the most challenging choral literature of the year. The tremendous efforts of the Northwood Chamber Singers and Bass Clef were evident when they performed at the 46th Annual Invitational Choir Festival at Chapman University Conservatory of Music on Friday, March 19.
The Northwood choruses were two of seven high school choruses that performed. Six choirs were from Southern California, while special guests Brainerd High School A cappella Choir hailed from Minnesota.
Northwood singers enjoyed an all-you-can-eat buffet after the high school session. The dinner was followed by the college/university session, which consisted of five choruses including the Chapman University Choir.
While the festival was not a competition, each chorus was evaluated by two music professors: James H. Vail from the Thornton School of Music of USC and Iris S. Levine from Cal Poly.
Northwood choral director Zach Halop found Vail and Levine’s critique helpful.
“It’s good to hear constructive criticism from someone else’s point of view,” said Halop. “And they were right on the money.”
According to Halop, the point of the festival wasn’t to compare the best or the worst choirs but instead to see which ones created real art and had literature that Northwood choruses could perform in the future.
Both Halop and many Northwood singers, such as Chamber singer Adrienne Mikovari, found the festival both enjoyable and enlightening.
“Singing with peers is fun,” said Mikovari. “[At the festival] we can share comments, see other choirs’ techniques and incorporate them into our own performances.”
Most students agreed that the best part of the festival was, of course, the music.
“It was a great experience,” said sophomore Daniel Chae, a Bass Clef singer. “There aren’t many people who cherish art, and when we all just come together with our unique mindsets, the outcome is amazing.”
Related posts: