On Tuesday, October 29th, all eight VHHS choirs joined together to produce beautiful ballads, angelic a cappella numbers, and riveting requiems. Here’s a breakdown of the sonorous evening, which was directed by Choral Director Taylor Stricklin and Associate Choral Director Cara Thomas!
The Tenor-Bass freshman choir had a great first high-school performance! The tenors and basses performed “Sing Now, Ye Sons of Art,” a musical ode to Queen Mary II’s birthday, and Mozart’s “Jubilate, Exsultate!” a rhythmically driven piece originally whose name means “Jubilate and exalt Him!” Following the Tenor-Bass freshmen, all other tenors and basses joined their choral accomplices to sing “Tell My Father” a tribute to those lost in the Civil War, with soloist Jareth Klootwijk. The combined Tenor-Bass choirs will sing “Tell My Father” during the Veteran’s Day programs at both Liberty Park and Pizitz.
The tenors and basses then welcomed the Vestavia Singers to the stage where they performed the a cappella arrangement “Locus Iste,” a slow yet dynamic, antique piece translating, “This place was made by God in inestimable Sacrament.” Then, the Singers performed another a cappella staple: “Keep Your Lamps!” arranged by Andre Thomas; “Keep Your Lamps!” has been admired and performed in choirs across the country for decades. Finally, the Singers, joined by soloist Charlotte Self, ended their set with “And the Night Shall Be Filled With Music,” an arrangement based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote after the death of his wife.
Maintaining the night’s lively atmosphere, the freshman Trebles and Main Campus Voces performed “Stars I Shall Find” and “A Song Sung Once.” A text reflecting on the stars’ beauty and wonder, “Stars I Shall Find” captured the entire audience through the Trebles and Voces’ emotional interpretation. No less emotionally resonant, “A Song Sung Once” captured the essence of a song’s potential for lasting impact. Following the Voces/Trebles, the rest of the VHHS Trebles joined the stage to perform “You’ve Got a Friend,” which incorporates harmonies to augment the song’s warm message of being there for someone in need. Lastly, Ensemble remained on the stage, where they performed “In Paradisum,” a text of hope for the deceased’s eternal peace, and aided soloist Margaret Anne Latimer in rendering “I Will be a Child of Peace,” a text that promotes peace and encourages our community to embody its values.
Just Singin’ and Honor Choir closed the concert. Just Singin’ performed The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun” with soloists Hollis Coleman and Nyla Galloway, Sia’s “Alive” with soloist Joy Cook, and ThirdStory’s “Searching for a Feelin’” with soloists Mary Pitts and John Lee Wimberly. The concert came to an end with the Honor Choir’s rhythmic “In Meeting We are Blessed,” enchanting “Who Has Seen The Wind?” and awe-inspiring “Measure Me, Sky!”
From the archaic Latin to the pop a cappella, all choirs turned in performances they can be proud of. If you see any choir members in the halls, be sure to congratulate them!