Spotlight Singers 2008-2009
Auditions for the 08-09 Spotlight Singers were held on Tuesday, May 20 in the high school choir room. The judges had a very tough job scoring such a great group of auditionees. Congratulations to the new group!
Seniors--Ethan Head, Max Hartwig, Holly Lyle, Brittany Renard, Syndy Singleton, Emilee Lewis, Victoria Webster
Juniors--Erik Owens, Ben Miller, Melisa Musick
Sophomores--Charissa Henderson, Kayla Blanton
Freshmen--Cody Edwards, Lucas Head, Amber Lane, Heather Madison, Devyn Purcell, Austin Stroud, Hannah Head
Seniors of 2008
Freedom, Peace and Love
The Bearkitten Singers will present "Freedom, Peace and Love: A Musical Journey Through the Sixties" on Thursday, May 1, 2008, at the middle school auditorium. The program will begin at 7:00 PM.
The Bearkitten Singers will entertain and inform with a spoken time line through the decade of the sixties interspersed with popular songs from the era. The time line begins with the presidency of John F. Kennedy and his formation of the Peace Corps followed by the Civil Rights Movement, technological advances, Motown, the British invasion, the emerging youth culture, the Vietnam War and Neil Armstrong's first step on the moon. Featured music includes "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band"; "What A Wonderful World"; "We Shall Overcome"; "People Got To Be Free"; " I Heard it Through the Grapevine"; "Ticket To Ride"; "Hair"; "Blowin' in the Wind"; "Good Morning Starshine"; and "Peace Train."
Scenes From All State Choir
The Arkansas All State Music Conference was held in the Hot Springs Convention Center.
The Arkansas All State Male Chorus rehearsing under the direction of Dr. David Brunner from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Max intently studies his music during a rehearsal.
The All State Mixed Choir under the direction of Dr. Donald Bailey from Baylor University, Waco, Texas.
The All State Male Chorus leaving the risers for a well-deserved break.
Bearkitten Singers Prepare for Spring Performances
The Bearkitten Singers are working hard in preparation for the Choral Performance Assessment which will be held at Benton High School on Saturday, March 8. The choir is also working on their spring musical Freedom, Peace and Love: A Musical Journey Through the Sixties. The musical performance will take place on May 1.
Section leaders get the Bearkitten Singers warmed up and ready for singing. For more pictures, click on the Bearkitten Singers link.
Max Makes All State!!!
Max made the Arkansas All State Choir yesterday. He ranked 34th in the state in the Bass I auditions. Congratulations Max!!!
All State or Bust!!
Max, Melisa, Ethan and Ben are in the final weeks of preparation for Arkansas All State Choir auditions. The auditions will be held on Friday, February 1, at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia.
The journey toward all state actually began with all region auditions in October 2007. Only the top thirteen scores in each vocal classification at all region are eligible to audition for all state choir. Students placing in the top thirteen at all region must prepare five new pieces of music for all state auditions. Only three of the songs will be used for the actual auditions, but the students will not know which three songs are selected until the morning of February 1. Each student will then perform a portion of the three selected songs as a soloist in front of five judges.
Max, Melisa, Ethan and Ben have been working on the all state music at after school rehearsals with Ms. Taylor. They also attended an intensive workshop at Henderson State last Saturday to work on the all state music with other auditionees from across the Southwest Region.
Concert Date Changed
For the first time in at least six years, the senior high choir students will be unable to have their spring concert on the first Tuesday in May. The State Department of Education changed the algebra II end-of-course test date to Wednesday, May 7, and state regulations require that no school activity be scheduled on the evening before the exam. The senior high concert has been re-scheduled for Monday, May 5, at 7:00 PM in the middle school auditorium.
The Holly Harshman Fifth Grade Harmony Stars sang at Little Rock in the State Capitol rotunda on Friday, December 14.
The Spotlight Singers presented a program of carols for the Rotary Club on Thursday, December 13. Sophomore, Melisa Musick, and junior, Max Hartwig, spoke to the Rotarians about the importance of choir and music in their lives. After the program, the group was treated to lunch compliments of the Rotary Club. For more pictures, check out the Spotlight Singers link.
Elementary Choirs Christmas Concert, Tuesday, December 11, 7:00PM at the middle school auditorium
The Spotlight Singers and Sweet Harmony greeted guests at the CASA Ball with Christmas carols on Saturday, December 8. For another shot of the singers, check out the Spotlight Singers link.
High School/Middle School Christmas Concert, Tuesday, December 4, 7:00PM at middle school auditorium
All Region Clinic and Concert
The Southwest Region All Region Honors Choir Clinic and Concert was held at Lake Hamilton High School on Saturday, November 17.
Junior High All Region Choir Members
Six middle school choir students made the 2007 Southwest Region All Region Honors Mixed Choir. Amber Lane, 8th grade, alto, ranked 3rd out of 110 students who auditioned in that voice category. Lucas Head, 8th grade, tenor II, ranked 3rd out of 31auditionees while Cody Edwards, 8th grade, tenor II; Ryan Lowery, 7th grade, tenor II; and Jacob Berger, 8th grade, tenor II, ranked 12th, 13th and 15th respectively. Victoria Boydstun, 8th grade, soprano II, ranked 13th out of 104 in her voice classification. Brittany Dulaney, 8th grade, alto; Austin Stroud, 8th grade, soprano I; and Hannah Head, 8th grade, soprano I all made the all region treble choir. Brittany ranked 23rd out of 110; Austin ranked 30th out of 131; and Hannah ranked 32nd out of 131. The Southwest Region all region clinic and concert will be held at Lake Hamilton High School on Saturday, November 17.
Senior High All Region Choir Members
Nine Bearcat Chorus members made the 2007 Southwest Region All Region Honors Mixed Choir. Melisa Musick, a sophomore, alto II, ranked 4th out of 92 students who auditioned in that voice category. Ethan Head, junior, bass I, ranked 5th out of 48 auditionees while junior, Max Hartwig, and sophomore, Erik Owens, ranked 13th and 16th respectively in the same vocal classification. Ben Miller, sophomore, bass II, ranked 13th and junior, bass II, Chris Champion ranked 16th out of the 44 young men who auditioned in that vocal classification. Freshman, alto II, Charissa Henderson, ranked 28th out of 92; freshman, soprano I, Kayla Blanton, ranked 22nd out of 105; and sophomore, soprano II, Kaylynn Guinn, ranked 25th out of 81. Charissa, Kayla and Kaylynn all earned positions in the senior high Southwest Region All Region Honors Treble Choir. Melisa, Ethan, Max and Ben scored in the top thirteen positions of their voice classifications which makes them eligible for all state choir auditions in February 2008. The Southwest Region all region clinic and concert will be held at Lake Hamilton High School on November 17.
Bearcat Chorus Students Attend Workshop
Victoria, Kayla, Ethan, Erik, Alexis, Melisa, Max, Amy, and Traci attended the senior high all region music workshop at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. The workshop was held on Saturday, September 29. The Mena High choir members joined other students from throughout the Southwest Region in a three-hour intensive rehearsal of this years' all region audition music.
Bearcat Chorus Elects Officers
The Bearcat Chorus officers for 2007-2008 are: Max Hartwig, President; Lindy Foster, Vice-president; Holly Lyle, Secretary; Ben Miller, Emilee Lewis, Melisa Musick, Librarians; Ben Miller, Ethan Head, Traci Bosch, Ashley Howard, Nikki Sloan, Jacque Stoddard, Section Leaders.
2007-2008 Spotlight Singers and Sweet Harmony
Whew! Auditions are over and the Spotlight Singers and Sweet Harmony will get to work next Tuesday, September 11, on all their music for the new school year. Next Tuesday's rehearsal will be from 3:30-5:30PM in the high school choir room. Both ensembles will perform at the Rich Mountain Community College 25th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, September 22, at 2:00PM.
Spotlight Singers members for 07-08 are: Erik Owens, Ethan Head, Max Hartwig, Melisa Musick, Katie Fox, Lydia Rhodes, Kisha Fair, Kayla Blanton and Traci Bosch.
Sweet Harmony members for 07-08 are: Victoria Webster, Syndy Singleton, Kisha Fair, Kayla Blanton, Traci Bosch, Linette Colson, Nikki Sloan, Melisa Musick, Katie Fox and Lydia Rhodes.
Bearkitten Singers Elect Officers
The Bearkitten Singers officers for 2007-2008 are: Lucas Head, President; Hannah Lochala, Vice-president; Kimmie Hanners, Secretary; Cody Edwards, Head Librarian; Anna Buckley, Sammy Henry, Natalie Rose, Dacota Gray, Heather Peterson, Librarians; Jacob Berger, Amber Lane, Hannah Head, Alex Betz and Devyn Purcell, Section Leaders.
High School Ensemble Auditions
Auditions for membership in the Spotlight Singers and Sweet Harmony will be held on Thursday, September 6, at 3:45PM in the high school choir room. If you are interested in becoming a member of one or both of these advanced-level performing groups, pick up an application in the choir room, fill it out and turn it in to Ms. Taylor by Friday, August 31.
All Region Honors Choir
It is time to make preparations for all region honors choir auditions. The auditions are an opportunity for choir students to excel. Students must prepare three or four selected songs for the auditions. When the audition day arrives, the student will sing a short portion of each of the audition pieces in front of three judges. Students will be competing against other schools throughout the Southwest Region which includes Bryant, Hot Springs, El Dorado, Camden, Texarkana and DeQueen. Students with the highest scores in each voice classification become All Region Honors Choir members.
A senior high all region audition music workshop will be held on Saturday, September 29, at Henderson State University. The workshop will run from 9AM until 12 Noon. The senior high all region auditions will be held at Camden High School in Camden, Arkansas, on Saturday, October 13. The senior high all region audition music is: The Awakening; God of Life; Laudate Pueri Dominum (women only) and Noel! (men only).
The junior high all region auditions will be held at Malvern High School in Malvern, Arkansas, on Saturday, October 27. The junior high all region music is: Walk in Jerusalem Just-A Like John; Alterations; Omnia Sol; Who Shall Sing? (women only) and Can'st Thou Love Me Lady? (men only).
Junior high and senior high all region practice CD's may be purchased from Ms. Taylor for $1.00.
We survived choir camp!!
The ACC choir camp was held on the University of Central Arkansas campus in July 2007. Alex, Amber, Charissa, Lucas and Kayla attended the camp. Lucas sang a solo in the final concert. He also was named an Honor Camper and received a scholarship to attend the camp next summer. Amber, Kayla and Charissa made it into the membership-by-audition-only junior high women's ensemble. All the students had a great time!!!