SHS choir wins division at Hawaii music festival

The Sandpoint High School Performing Choir and Male Quartet won their division at the Heritage Choir Festival on the BYU Hawaii campus on April 11.

The quartet joined the girls choir in order to make up a choir of both male and female voices.

They entered the Chamber Ensemble division and won. They received a “Tikii” trophy and a certificate inviting them to one of the four “Festivals of Gold.”

These festivals are held in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York. Choirs must have an invitation to participate in one of these festivals, said director Jon Brownell.

This vocal ensemble performed three classical pieces of literature. They were “Jabberwocky,” “Wade In The Water,” and “A Red, Red Rose.”

They were judged by three judges, who scored them a 91 percent, another 91 percent and a 96 percent. This was based on a 100-point scale. Brownell said he is very proud of the job they did and the scores they received.

This group also performed their jazz repertoire while visiting Pearl Harbor. They performed on the dock of the battleship the “USS Missouri.” They ended this program with the Paul Simon tune, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

After this performance, the director of events for the USS Missouri presented them with a folded American Flag and a certificate of authenticity showing that the American flag that was presented once flew on the USS Missouri.

The choir also visited the Polynesian Cultural Center, went snorkeling and swimming and simply just enjoyed being on the island of Oahu.

They would like to thank the community and all who supported them throughout the year with their fund raising efforts. It was well worth it, Brownell said.