Top choral students to perform Tuesday
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on April 1, 2007 2:03 AM
Wayne County Public Schools' choral students in grades 6-12, will perform in the 2007 All County Choral Festival Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Dillard Middle School.
Choral directors from each middle school and high school selected students to participate for their vocal ability and work ethic. The program features musical selections ranging from patriotic songs to African American spirituals and classical selections.
The annual event is always anticipated as a great way to cultivate and showcase the musical talents of the some of the finest young singers in Wayne County, said Dr. Steven Taylor, superintendent of schools.
"Our school system works diligently to use music education to help educate the 'whole child'. After seeing the caliber of the choral festival performances, people will see just how hard our students actually work to better themselves inside and outside the classroom," he said.
High school students will spend the day tuning their skills with guest clinician Dr. Gary Wright. Wright is the choir director at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He currently directs the university's concert choir and the Pembroke Singers and teaches musical education classes.
Middle school students will spend their day with clinician, Mrs. Scott Hill. Mrs. Hill taught music in the Durham Public Schools for 30 years, during which time her choirs performed regularly for community and civic events in the Durham area. Her choirs have toured England, Russia, Spain, New York, Washington, Philadelphia and Orlando. After retiring in 2004, Mrs. Hill founded the Durham Children's Choir, with assistance from the Durham Arts Council, Duke University Chapel and private individuals.
She has served as a clinician and adjudicator at choral music festivals in Virginia and as a visiting instructor in music education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Sandra McCullen, WCPS associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction, will be the mistress of ceremonies for the choral event, which is free and open to the public.
Some of the musical selections for this year include; "Mi Yitneni Of" (Who Will Give Me Wings), "Keep Your Lamps," "In Flanders Fields" and "Now Let Me Fly."