Students from Pulaski County High School made a big impression on judges recently as they performed in front of the Virginia Choral Director’s Association (VCDA) District 7 Choral Assessment at Patrick Henry High School in Glade Springs, Virginia.
Members of the Advanced Concert Choir and the Treble Chorus attended the evaluation. Each group that performed two prepared selections to be adjudicated by a panel of three judges, which consisted of a children’s choir director, a high school choir director, and a college choir director.
After their group performance, each group then proceeded to “sight reading” for a fourth judge. Students were given two minutes to work together to learn an eight-measure musical exercise which they had never seen before. The group then performed the piece for a rating.
Each of the Pulaski County groups completed the day with a Superior rating for their performance and for their sight reading, the highest rating a group can receive. This accomplishment was made even more impressive considering it was the first choral assessment since 2019 for the PCHS Choral Department.
“We were one week out from assessment in the spring of 2020 when we were sent home for COVID and never returned; so, getting to participate in this year's event brought us full circle and gave us some much-needed closure", said Angela Talbert, PCHS Choral Director.
Members of the Advanced Concert Choir mentioned that while the enjoyed being able to perform and receive feedback and a rating, the event also brought them closer together and that performing under pressure truly made them a stronger group.
Both the Advanced Concert Choir and Treble Chorus are scheduled to perform again Thursday, March 31, in the PCHS Night at the Movies concert, as well as Friday, May 13, at the annual Spring Concert. Both concerts are scheduled to be held at the PCHS Little Theatre.