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The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

A Capella voyage to Hawaii

A+Capella+voyage+to+Hawaii

hawaiiThe A Cappella class will be traveling to Oahu, Hawaii on March 21 through 25, to compete against other high schools in the Heritage Festival.

So far about 45 students have signed up for the trip.

Director of Choral music Joe Piazza said that the Heritage Festival hosts music festivals around the country in almost every major city and usually about 10 to 15 high schools compete.

“The number one reason we are going there is to sing in a competition,” Piazza said. “We will have a panel of judges who will critique the kids on their performance.”

Piazza said that the panel will critique them on multiple things such as their choral repertoire, their singing, their intonations, their rhythm, and their expressiveness.

“There will be a follow up workshop with one of the conductors who’s on the panel,” Piazza said. “Usually these are people who are college or university or professional chorus directors from around the country.”

Sophomore Eliza Lucas said she has been singing in A Cappella for two years and is going on the trip.

“I take A Cappella because I love singing and Mr. Piazza,” Lucas said.

Lucas said that since there was no class trip last year, traveling to Hawaii will be her first A Cappella trip.

“The tour will improve my A Cappella skills because I can see what other good choruses sound like and get more exposure to music,” Lucas said.

Senior Tess Reichle said she has been doing A Cappella for four years.

“I really enjoy singing,” Reichle said.

Reichle said that she is excited about going to Hawaii and believes it will enhance the students A Cappella skills.

“We rehearse a lot when we go on trips,” Reichle said.

Senior Matt Baringer said he has also been doing A Cappella for four years and is looking forward to the Hawaii trip with his A Cappella classmates.

“I don’t think it will improve my A Cappella skills, but I think it will be fun,” Baringer said.

Both Reichle and Baringer went on the New York trip their sophomore year and said it was fun.

“Singing in Carnegie hall was amazing and I’d never been to New York before so it was really cool that we got to explore the city as well as sing,” Reichle said.

Piazza said he is looking forward to the trip and although they will be mostly singing they will also be exploring all over the island.

“We’re going to go to the North Shore, Wailea, and the Polynesian Cultural Center, where the awards ceremony is,” Piazza said. “We’ll be at the beach for a few days too.”

 

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