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NEWS
High school choirs join for Marshall concert
Dr. Jeffrey Pappas, Chair Marshall University Dept. of Music, welcomes guests to the Marshall University Festival Chorus Finale Concert held Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, at Marshall's Smith Recital Hall in Huntington.
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HUNTINGTON -- Hundreds of high school students from 13 different choirs joined Marshall University's choral ensemble Saturday afternoon for the capping performance of the 2009 MU Festival Chorus.
Students arrived Friday and only had two rehearsals before hitting the stage in front of friends and family.
"That's the fastest I've ever learned music," said Travis Pierson, a Cabell Midland High School sophomore and member of the school's Collegium. "There were such good conductors, they were able to teach us amazing, difficult and fantastic music in a short time."
This was the sixth year Marshall's University Chorus and Chamber Choir hosted the event. David Castleberry, a professor of music and director of choral activities, said the students who participate come from programs led by directors who understand the value the festival's mission.
"There's talent everywhere," Castleberry said. "We get some remarkable young people who come for this."
The participating choirs included the ARTS Youth Chorus, Huntington; Cabell Midland, Ona; Capital High School, Charleston; Chapmanville High School, Chapmanville; Gallia Academy High School, Gallipolis; Philip Barbour High School, Philippi, W. Va.; River Valley High School, Bidwell, Ohio; Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School, Rockville, Md.; Tolsia High School, Fort Gay; Washington High School, Charles Town, W. Va.; Waterford High School, Waterford, Ohio; and Wayne High School, Wayne.
Also participating was Rock Hill High School from Ironton. It was the first invite the school had received, and students were happy to be a part of it.
"It's cool that we get to be the first to experience," said junior Mycah Pemberton. "Now we get to go back and tell our school about it."
Pemberton and freshman Savannah Burge described the total experience as phenomenal. They said it was impressive to see how all the choruses came together for one concert.
"It's a challenge, but it definitely pays off in the end," Pemberton said.
