In addition, guest professionals work with students
Ten Pioneer High School vocalists performed at the Michigan School Vocal Music Association’s (MSVMA) Region C High School Honors Choir on Saturday, Dec. 2, along with 125 of southeast Michigan’s finest high school singers from southeast Michigan.
All 10 performers auditioned for and made it to the distinguished MSVMA State Honors Choir in January.
Congratulations to: Jaden Burman ’25, Tenor 1; Chase Crownover ’25, Tenor 2; Lily Drummond ’26, Alto 2; Janice Kang ’25, Soprano 1; Ainsley Maddock ’25, Alto 2; Emmanuel Morgan ’25, Tenor 2; Sola Peters ’26, Alto 1; Abigail Rohrer ’26, Alto 1; Mareya Thomas ’25, Soprano 1; and Lily Wright ’25, Soprano 2.
In other exciting news from the Pioneer Choirs: On Friday, Dec. 1, tenor Paul Appleby led a vocal masterclass. Three students, Eliana Adler ’24, Iris Maturen ’24, and Jaylee Oeschger ’24, performed for Appleby, received suggestions on how to improve their performance, and worked on their singing in front of the class. Appleby was visiting Ann Arbor to perform the tenor solo in the UMS production of G.F. Handel’s Messiah. The Pioneer Choirs partner annually with the UMS Learning Engagement Program to bring world-class artists into the building to work with and inspire young singers. (See photo below.)
Then on Thursday, December 7, the Pioneer High School Choirs welcomed composer Stacey V. Gibbs to the classroom. The A Cappella Choir is studying Gibbs’ arrangement of the African-American spiritual, Hush! Gibbs worked with the choir, shared insights into his arrangement, and spoke about the history of African-American spirituals. The choir will be performing Hush! under his direction on Sunday, December 10, in a joint concert with the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings in Detroit. Gibbs is an internationally-renowned composer and one of the leading arrangers of African-American spirituals of this generation. See photo below:
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