Sandpoint High School choirs receive awards

Sandpoint High School choirs have brought home top honors from a pair of recent festivals.

The SHS Chamber Choir traveled to Seattle to participate in the Seattle Heritage Music Festival, performing superbly and coming home with the “Gold Award,” choir director Jon Brownell said.

Schools can only receive the award if they earn a minimum of 90 points from the judges on a 100-point adjudication scale. The SHS Chamber Choir received a 93 and, along with the award, the choir was invited to perform next year at Carnegie Hall in New York.

After coming home from Seattle, Brownell said SHS vocal ensembles performed at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho. The Chamber Choir won the 3A division and the Women’s Performing Choir also won its division.

“We incorporated into our performance what the judges in Seattle told us we should do," Brownell said. "We took it to the next level.”

Brownell said the SHS vocal music students wanted to thank the community for their continued support as they roam around the city singing at the different restaurants.

"Thank you, Sandpoint," he added. "We hope we made you proud!"