BHS group earns ‘gold’ rating at worldwide festival
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff writer
Members of the Burlington High School A Capella Choir were busy in California over spring break, but it wasn’t your standard trip to Disneyland.
The choir joined more than 2,400 students from all over the country for the Worldwide Heritage Festival, and was one of 10 school choirs to receive a “gold” rating.
That rating earned the choir an invitation to compete at Nationals in New York. A second site is being offered in Chicago, and choir director Penny Yanke has indicated she would like to take the group there.
The choir has done the Heritage Festival three times now – previously in Chicago and New York City. This year’s festival was held at Disneyland in Anaheim.
The gold rating was the latest in a string of awards for the choir this year, as the group qualified for state solo and ensemble contest as well. The choir competes in contemporary A Capella music, vocal jazz, madrigal and classical music.
The group performed three songs at Disney: “Calling My Children Home,” Haydn’s “Gloria,” and Dickau’s “I Carry Your Heart With Me.”
About 25 students comprise the choir, though not all of them made the trip to California.
Ross Canales, a junior, is in his second year with the A Capella Choir. He said the choir had been anticipating the trip to California all year.
“It was definitely an important thing for us this year,” Canales said. “The trip overall was absolutely amazing.
“I felt pretty excited that we took gold,” he added. “I thought everyone was pretty satisfied with how we did.”
Canales is looking forward to a possible trip to nationals in March of 2013.
“I think we have a good chance of doing very well in that competition,” Canales said.
Taylor Gruman, a senior, has been a member of the choir for three years.
“It feels good,” she said. “It’s my last year, so to go out with a bang is kind of cool.”
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