Three DIS singers qualify for state

Posted on: May 27, 2020

Thanks to standout performances in “blind” auditions held earlier this year, Mary Leyda, Ryann Wyman and Scarlett Morrissette have earned themselves places in the State Honor Choir.

The fifth-graders at Delano Intermediate School were chosen from audio recordings alone, meaning the judges did not know the name, age or school of the students as they listened to a selection of scales and a short but difficult song in Latin.

“They are rated on accuracy of pitch, rhythms, beautiful tone and musicality,” said DIS choir director Sandy Meyerson. “The auditions were open to fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders in the state, so our singers were competing with older students with more choral experience, which is a credit to them for their hard work and dedication.”

Students began rehearsing in January, recorded their auditions in February and were notified of their acceptance in mid-March during the transition to distance learning. The State Honor Choir concert had been scheduled for May 4, but has been postponed to Oct. 3 in Mahtomedi.

While the reward for their efforts has been delayed, Meyerson said Leyda, Wyman and Morrissette will be excellent representatives for Delano during the honor choir experience.

“Scarlett, Ryann, and Mary are choir members who bring a lot of joy and energy to every rehearsal,” she said. “They are eager to practice and set high standards for themselves, and as a consequence, provide great leadership for their choir. Each one of them is a joy to coach. They are curious, focused and hardworking.”

Meyerson added that the opportunity to gather with other skilled singers from around the state will be an opportunity that will shape their development in significant ways.

“Students who participate in honor choirs grow as musicians,” she said. “The rigorous requirements of musicianship, the opportunity to sing with other high performing young singers, and the exposure to great literature really takes them to a new level as musicians. They also have the opportunity to work with regional and national choral conductors.

“One of the things I love about the honor choir experience is that these students get to spend time really knowing and owning the music, and come away with a sense of community and connection to the music and their fellow singers. Honor choir is really like a choral ‘boot camp,’ and students come back with a lot of confidence as singers and performers.”
 

Post Categories: Intermediate School