Two Notre Dame Prep choirs get excellent ratings at recent festival competition; women's chorus earns one of the highest scores in 10 years.
(videos below)
The school's chamber choir and women's chorus performed at the recent Michigan School Vocal Music Association district choir festival on Saturday, March 16, at Clarkston High School. The Notre Dame choirs joined other high school choirs in performing two selections each and participating in a sight-read exercise involving multi-part music in order to earn a score ultimately determined by four independent judges.
The NDP chamber choir competed at the intermediate level and received 104 out of 120 points, earning an excellent rating. The women's chorus received 115 out of 120 points, also earning an excellent rating.
"I'm very proud of both groups," said Notre Dame's director of choirs Dave Fazzini. "The chamber choir received a perfect score on the sight-reading portion of the contest and the women's chorus received one of the highest ratings that an NDP choir has received in the past 10 years. I also want to thank all the students, parents and administration for their participation and support throughout the school years do far."
A number of videos from the March 16 festival are available below.
According to Fazzini, the videos show the chamber choir performing two very interesting pieces. The first involved a setting from an e.e. cummings poem called "sun, moon, stars, rain," and he said the choir spent some time studying the poem, uncovering the somewhat dark undertones in an otherwise very light musical setting.
"The second is a beautiful setting of a Latin text written by a local composer, Ola Gjeilo, who has achieved widespread fame for his modern, lyrical and lush pieces," Fazzini said. "Also on video, the women's chorus performs a classic setting of an Irish piece called, "Blessing," as well as a beautiful original song about the arrival of spring called "The Rivers are Running Again."
Both choirs have been invited to the state festival in late April, Fazzini added.
Chamber Choir:
Women's Chorus:
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NOTRE DAME'S CHORUS DEPARTMENT.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower schools enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three Notre Dame schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org