Two Whitefield students attended the Georgia Statewide Sixth-Grade Honor Chorus this weekend in Athens. Ilsa Messner and Ellie Farrar, who were members of the Middle School Chorus during the fall semester, were selected by Whitefield Chorus Director Abe Okie to be a part of the choir. Their eligibility for the elite all-state choir is a tribute to their musicality, work ethic, and vocal ability.
In Athens, they joined with 250 of the best sixth-grade singers in Georgia under the direction of Dr. Michelle Herring, professor of music education at Columbus State University. Over the course of Friday and Saturday morning, they perfected six pieces of varying styles and languages. In addition to American folk traditions, the songs drew from Israeli, African, and Native American cultures. Ilsa even worked up the nerve to audition for a solo on her favorite song, “Homeland.”
The choir performed in the majestic Classic Center on Saturday afternoon to a full house of parents, teachers, and peers. A second sixth-grade choir directed by Dr. Martha Shaw also performed. Dr. Shaw teaches at Reinhardt University and is known for directing the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir in Atlanta. At the end of the concert, the two choirs performed an arrangement of “All Things Bright and Beautiful” to the delight of the crowd. The concert was a massive success and a testament to both the power of good music and the potential of middle school students to create it.
In Athens, they joined with 250 of the best sixth-grade singers in Georgia under the direction of Dr. Michelle Herring, professor of music education at Columbus State University. Over the course of Friday and Saturday morning, they perfected six pieces of varying styles and languages. In addition to American folk traditions, the songs drew from Israeli, African, and Native American cultures. Ilsa even worked up the nerve to audition for a solo on her favorite song, “Homeland.”
The choir performed in the majestic Classic Center on Saturday afternoon to a full house of parents, teachers, and peers. A second sixth-grade choir directed by Dr. Martha Shaw also performed. Dr. Shaw teaches at Reinhardt University and is known for directing the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir in Atlanta. At the end of the concert, the two choirs performed an arrangement of “All Things Bright and Beautiful” to the delight of the crowd. The concert was a massive success and a testament to both the power of good music and the potential of middle school students to create it.