St. Mary’s School students Elizabeth Brands, Sophie Sherlock, and Gabriella Wilkerson were selected to participate in the 2016 Tennessee Treble Honor Choir. (Submitted photo)

Students at St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge were selected for multiple honor choirs in what has been a leading year for the school’s music program, a press release said

St. Mary’s School students Elizabeth Brands, Sophie Sherlock, and Gabriella Wilkerson were selected to participate in the 2016 Tennessee Treble Honor Choir, the press release said. The singers sang under the direction of Derrick Fox, assistant professor of choral music education and choral conducting in the Ithaca College School of Music. The Tennessee Music Educators Association commissioned a piece to be performed at the conference opening concert and ceremonies. The piece entitled “Honeybees” was composed by Andrea Ramsey. Ramsey attended the conference and rehearsed with the choir as well as attended the choir’s premier performance of her composition.

The Tennessee Treble Honor Choir is an auditioned choir made up of 130-150 of the best fifth- and sixth-grade students from schools throughout the state of Tennessee, the press release said. Each student submitted a solo audition recording of her or him singing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” in the keys of F and A Flat. A committee of music educators from across the state adjudicated the auditions listening for pitch accuracy, tone quality, diction, ability to use chest and head registers, and phrasing. The Treble Choir performed at the Tennessee Music Education Association Professional Development Conference held April 13-14 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. [Read more…]