Hamburg High School select choir Aerial Boundaries participated in the Kutztown University High School Choral Festival Oct. 18 in Schaeffer Auditorium.
This event showcased five area high school choral ensembles performing for each other non-competitively. The performance order was drawn randomly and each performance was followed by a clinic experience by Dr. Hank Alviani, associate professor of music, according to a Kutztown University event release.
“The goal of the festival is to give the high schools experience in performing for an audience and the opportunity to watch other schools perform. As well as a clinic to help fine tune their music,” according to KU.
Attending Hamburg students included, but not limited to, Brittany Freed, senior; Trevor Fegley, junior; Eileen Deisemann, junior; Emma Riegel, 9; Marita Gattone, junior; Samantha Livingston, senior; Miranda Pinder, senior; Seth R. M. Boyce, junior; Kyle Herbert, freshman; Arianna Braxy, senior; Michael Hertzog, senior; Amy Florian, sophomore; Dillon Hamilton, senior; Adam Palko, sophomore; and Paige Anderson, senior.
Hamburg students participating in the festival shared a few thoughts about what they hope to have gained from the experience.
“To further our musical knowledge and get a second opinion on our pieces,” said Dillon Hamilton, senior.
“To understand what the festival is about and to get feedback from other people’s points of views,” said Amy Florian, sophomore.
“We are participating in the festival to improve and strengthen our skills in vocal performance,” said Paige Anderson, senior.
“We hope to gain performance abilities, learn new tips and techniques, and grow as a choral group. This festival is fun, and a great chance to expand my choral abilities,” said Samantha Livingston, senior.
Bryce Wagner, senior, hopes to improve his singing skills for future performances.
Brittany Freed, senior, knows that by attending this festival, she and her performance group would be critiqued on their current skill level. She also knows that by attending KU’s Choral Festival, she will gain new musical skills and refinement on their pieces. She has participated in this festival for the last two years and thoroughly enjoys it.
Jayde Dries, senior, believes that their participation in this festival will be extremely beneficial to their ensemble. They receive useful pointers on the pieces they perform which in turn helps them become better musicians and performers.
