Numerous Monroe business owners were treated to a performance by the Park Place Middle School choir last week during the Monroe Chamber of Commerce luncheon that was held on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
The choir, which has been on hiatus for several years, is led by music instructor Katie Carruthers. In addition to teaching students the basics of choral musicianship and harmonies, Carruthers instructs them in music theory, sight-reading, music history, choral techniques and more.
The choir meets daily during first period.
"Middle school choirs are an important link between the elementary singing experience and our high school choirs,GÇ¥ said Monroe School District Director of Communications Rosemary O'Neil. "Katie does a really nice job.GÇ¥
Initially, Carruthers facilitated a before-school choir club for middle school students, since there wasn't sufficient student interest to accommodate an actual class during the school day.
This spring, students and parents from Park Place learned that student interest had achieved a high enough level that the school would be able to implement an official choir class for the 2014-15 school year.
The before-school choir club has remained available to students from both Hidden River and Park Place Middle Schools, and the district is hopeful that the club will generate enough interest at Hidden River so that they are eventually able to add a regularly-scheduled class to their curriculum. So far, there has not been adequate interest at Hidden River to accommodate a class.
The choir has performed in a fall concert that took place in early November, and has also held a few performances around the Monroe community. They welcome additional performance invitations.
"Katie's students are very enthusiastic and hope to expand their music library,GÇ¥ said O'Neil.
They would also like to have choir t-shirts made in time for a festival they hope to attend later in the school year.
During the chamber luncheon, the choir performed several musical pieces including "Do You Want to Build a SnowmanGÇ¥ from the movie "Frozen,GÇ¥ and a jazzy rendition of the Pink Panther Theme Song. Chamber attendees were extremely impressed by the performance, offering the choir a standing ovation when the performance was over.
"I expected cute little kids singing but got a big-town sophisticated choir instead,GÇ¥ said Nancy Truitt Peirce. "Amazing since this is the first year of the choir so it's only been a few months of practice. Very impressive.GÇ¥
The choir's next concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, at Monroe High School.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment