The High School’s choirs all earned first place and “superior” ratings at the June 1 “Music in the Parks” competition held in Jackson Township, N.J.
The Mixed Choir, Treble Choir, Bass Choir and Chamber Choir ensembles performed two selections Grice Middle School which were adjudicated by judges who specialize and are accomplished the field of choral music education.
Results are:
- Chamber Choir: First place and superior rating, with a score of 98 (Chamber choir also scored a perfect score of 50/50 from both judges on their first selection “Elijah Rock” by Jester Hairston)
- Bass Choir: First place and superior rating, with a score of 93.75
- Treble Choir: First place and superior rating, with a score of 93.5
- Mixed Choir: First place and superior rating, with a score of 93.25
Additionally, the Chamber Choir was named the Best Overall Choir of the Day, presented to the choir who scores the highest total out of all elementary, middle and high school choirs performing that day.
Plus: Senior Ethan Hidalgo was named Overall Student Accompanist for accompanying the Treble Choir on bongos for its performance of “Lineage.”
Their scores were based on their tone quality (control, clarity, consistency, blend); intonation (breath support, control, chords, intervals); diction and pronunciation: (enunciation, vowel purity, clarity of consonants); note & rhythmic accuracy (correctness of pitches and rhythmic values); and musicality (tempo, phrasing, balance, nuance, musical effect, style)
Each category is worth 10 points, for a total of 50 points per song, with a total score out of 100 for both selections performed. These scores are then weighed against all of the other schools who are competing that day, and awards are given at the awards ceremony.
Following their performances, students celebrated their success at Six Flags Great Adventure.
“I am so incredibly proud of these students,” said Choir Director Danielle Cornacchio. “Their level of dedication and enthusiasm for singing is inspiring. They have been working so hard all year, and every ensemble gave an absolutely stunning performance on Saturday. Not a day goes by that they don’t strive to do their best, and it was wonderful to be able to celebrate such amazing accomplishments with all of them.”