Beautiful Young Voices

    If you didn't make it to the Blue Track concert at 4 pm today, you missed some beautiful performances! The Spivey Hall Children's Choir from Clayton State University started the concert with an inspiring set.  I had looked the program over in advance and had noticed their challenging repertoire, which included several pieces that Ithaca College vocal ensembles had performed in the past few years ("No Time," "My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord," and "Nada te turbe").  I knew they would maintain a high standard of musicianship solely based on their repertoire, and they certainly delivered.  Their connection with their conductor, Martha Shaw, and their blended tone was astonishing.
    Anthony Arnold's Advanced Choir from Miller Middle School performed next.  Their repertoire was musically challenging as well, but what made me adore the group was their passion, evident from the first note in the piano accompaniment.  They began dancing in their own ways to show their love for singing, just as the piece, "When I Sing to Make You Dance," suggested.  But their energy did not fade after the first piece; they maintained various movements throughout each piece and their love for singing was all over their faces.  An intriguing aleatory piece, "A Pentatonic Alleluia," allowed each vocalist to express themselves individually as they entered.  They ended their set with a fun piece called "Travelin' Train" that truly captured their musicianship and their hard work.
    The final group that performed was the Mira Costa High School Vocal Ensemble, conducted by Michael Hayden.  The program proclaimed their Grammy success and although I hadn't heard them sing before, I was excited to hear their sound as a group.  From the first chord I could tell I would love their performance; their skilled and mature tone was gorgeous to hear.  The pieces went by quickly, and soon they were singing a piece called "Fille de ton Fils" which was stunning and complex.  My favorite, though, as a Disney fan, was the jazzy arrangement of Disney songs about flying ("Flying With Disney").  Their versatility in style and technique was impressive and exciting to hear.

-Laura White, Sophomore '17