COLUMBIA — Five students from St. Joseph School have been selected to perform in the state’s prestigious S.C. Elementary Honors Choir Feb. 15-17.
The group of St. Joseph School students earned the second-highest audition score and was among the largest groups selected from a single school. As a new member of the S.C. Music Educators Association, this is the first year St. Joseph School participated in the competition. The S.C. Elementary Honors Choir was established in 1998.
Choir members from St. Joseph School include sixth-grade students Mark Dodds, son of Kemn and Tom Dodds; and Tessa Monahan, daughter of Ellen and Tom Monahan; fifth-grade students Margaret Tompkins, daughter of Myda and Jiggs Tompkins; and Trey Sandoval, son of Carlos and Sheri Sandoval; and fourth-grade student Nicholaus Wegrzyn, son of Pamela and Stephen Wegrezyn.
Lorraine Glandon is director of music at St. Joseph School. All of the children sing in the Junior Choir of St. Joseph Church under the direction of Teresa Riley.
“We are very proud of our students. This was our first time to audition for the state’s Elementary Honors Choir, and we are thrilled to have done so well. Lorraine Glandon does a wonderful job in helping our students discover the talents within themselves,” said Notre Dame Sister Christina Murphy, principal of St. Joseph School.
More than 468 students from 85 schools auditioned for the 180 coveted spots in the annual S.C. Elementary Honors Choir. To compete, schools had to provide an audition tape featuring an a capella solo of “America,” along with a series of rhythms and pitches, from no more than six students. Choral teachers are not permitted to assist the children during an audition. St. Joseph School was one of two parochial school to have children participate in the choir; St. Anne School in Sumter also had students selected.
“We are proud to be a ‘singing school.’ I’m very happy for our children who were selected. It is a tremendous honor to perform with and get to know other students with choral interests from throughout the state,” says Glandon. “Our students’ enjoyment of and pride in singing contributes greatly to the pure tonal quality that led to their selection.”
The S.C. Elementary Honors Choir will perform at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Greenville. The free, public concert will be held in conjunction with the S.C. Music Educators Conference. The choir will perform a repertoire of sacred and secular music.