137 choir students from Stewarts Creek High School attended the Choral Adjudication Festival sponsored by the Middle Tennessee Vocal Association last week. All four SCHS Choirs attended the Festival held at Murfreesboro FUMC. The Giovani Voci, Bella Voce, Bel Canto, and Meistersingers choirs all received superior ratings in performance, which is the highest possible rating. They were judged by three choral professionals, who adjudicated the choirs on vocal production and musicality. All four choirs also received superior ratings in sightreading, which tests each student's literacy reading rhtyhms and melodies upon first sight.
"I'm very proud of these Red Hawks for receiving Superior Ratings at Festival this year," said Dr. Brian Russell, choir director at Stewarts Creek. "They performed very difficult literature at a high level and bettered their musicianship in the process."
The Superior ratings fall on the heels of eight SCHS students being selected as semi-finalists for the Orpheus Vocal Competition.
Since 1996, the Middle Tennessee Choral Society has sponsored the Orpheus Vocal Competition. The classical voice competition exists to provide financial support and encouragement to singers up to age 30 from around the United States who are pursuing careers as vocal artists. Orpheus is the only competition of its kind in the south central United States.
In addition to two letters of recommendation, each student had to prepare and record an Italian Art Song and and an English Folk Song. The letters and recordings were submitted in November.
Ten students nation-wide were selected for the high school division, eight of whom came from Stewarts Creek. They will sing in the semi-final round this Saturday for renowned judges who will critique their singing and give them career advice. They will also get to hear dozens of the finest young singers from across the country who will be competing in the older, Young Artist division.