The Selma High Choir program hosted their annual Spring Concert on March 20th at 6:30 p.m. in the dining hall. Titled “Blossom into Song,” it featured performances from Roosevelt Elementary, Garfield Elementary, Abraham Lincoln Middle School and Selma High, along with a culminating crescendo of a piece that brought all the school district’s choirs together.
Jorge Flores, Selma High’s choir teacher, believes that singing is something anyone can do long-term and serves to build a person’s confidence, as well as assists members in learning to more effectively express themselves.
“I think choir helps students, not only vocally, but as a person and as a team,” said Flores. “It helps them grow. Being a part of choir overall just helps them with those responsibilities.”
Flores added that students train their voices daily through warm-ups and vocal exercises, which build their vocal chords and assist them in gaining confidence through singing.
He is also hoping for a field trip to Six Flags so the choir group can experience the Museum of Arts Festival and wants to become the high school’s full-time choir teacher, so he can instruct five periods of choir to reach more students.
Laurel Ridgway directed the elementary school choirs and saw the event as an opportunity for the students to be exposed to another level of music while having the chance to develop personally.
“I believe it’s essential for kids to be able to express themselves in some way,” Ridgway commented. “Singing is one of the easiest ways to do it. They get a chance to sing, especially in a situation like tonight, where they see others expressing themselves. That’s huge growth and it’s essential for their well-being.”
Jessica Williams played piano accompaniment for all the choirs and served a significant role in providing a more authentic musical experience for the singers. She collaborates with Jorge Flores, who critiques the singers to improve their skills.
The Selma High choir also handed out many sticky notes through the paper programs. They featured statements from several of the singers regarding why they chose choir and why they sing. Some were anonymous, but it allowed participants to further express themselves in a comfortable way. The notes’ messages varied in their unique ways, but were able to show the diversity of the ensemble as well.
The concert commenced with the ALMS choir, which performed three pieces and was joined by the SHS Bass ensemble for an additional song. As the groups left the stands, choir members from both of the participating elementary schools entered. They were musically assisted by Regina Jimenez, Selma High’s percussion specialist, who provided unique talent to tie the piece together in an emotional, thrilling way.
Following the elementary singers, the SHS Treble ensemble took center stage for another three songs which were heartfelt and impassioned, garnering much applause from the audience, which was highly enthusiastic and encouraging throughout the evening.
Before the main, culminating piece, the SHS Chamber singers took their places and amazed the audience with their pick of three songs. The evening seemed to fly by spectacularly as the entertainment crescendoed for the final performance, which would serve as one of the event’s most striking moments.
Members of the choirs from Roosevelt, Garfield, ALMS and SHS joined each other to end the night on a high note. Performing “Why We Sing” by Greg Gilpin, it symbolized their shared love for the art and conveyed it effectively to the audience in a phenomenal way.
