Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Some say that life is a song that is meant to be sung. That’s just what over 150 high school and middle school students did when they gathered for Dare County’s second All-County Chorus Festival held at First Flight High School on February 19, 2020.

An evening concert at 6 p.m. highlighted students from Manteo and First Flight school chorus programs in individual and combined performances. Organizers John Weeks, Felicia Felice (Manteo) and John Buford (First Flight) arranged for a guest conductor Dr. Jami Rhodes to work with the students for the event.

Dr. Rhodes holds a doctor of musical arts in vocal performance and pedagogy from Louisiana State University, a master of music in vocal performance from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor of music in music education from East Carolina University, where she is currently associate professor of voice at East Carolina University. Rhodes teaches applied voice, serves as coordinator of vocal pedagogy and conducts ECU’s treble ensemble, the ECU Concert Choir.  She is the 2018 ECU recipient of the NC Board of Governors award for Excellence in Teaching.

A sought-after masterclass clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Rhodes has traveled across the country and her students have garnered top prizes in competitions at the state, regional and national competitions. She is also an active recitalist and appears regularly in both opera and concert works with symphonies and opera companies throughout the United States.

“At last year’s festival, our students had a fantastic experience. In fact, both schools praised how coming together produced a first-rate choral sound,” explained Buford. “All-County music events happen in many counties across the state and nation, and give students the opportunity to learn and perform in larger ensembles with peer musicians and clinicians,” added Weeks. These Dare educators were excited to bring a clinician with the caliber of Rhodes to Dare County for this annual tradition.

Selections for the All-County include a wide range of styles encompassing everything from Bernstein to African Folk Songs and traditional gospel styles that celebrate the diversity and beauty of choral singing.

READ ABOUT MORE SCHOOL NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Future view of Cape Hatteras Secondary media center