MORE than 800 parents and guests were treated to a magnificent spectacle as 330 students from 10 Brisbane Catholic primary schools performed a repertoire of 21 songs at the 19th annual Combined Schools Choral Festival.
The annual choral festival showcased the musical talents of students ranging from Years 4 to 7 performing a variety of popular, secular, religious and action songs at the Gateway Baptist Centre, MacKenzie, recently.
The festival is not a competition but its emphasis is to encourage participation while developing ability and expertise.
Planning for the event begins the previous November when a team of classroom music teachers meet to select the program for the forthcoming year’s festival.
When the school year resumes, these teachers meet each month to discuss the performance details of the songs.
The school choirs can then be taught so that unison songs, part harmonies and any actions for selected songs are known as well as identical.
Songs are chosen to develop the singing ability of the children while also displaying a variety of techniques, elements, styles and cultural music.
Each school is given a song to showcase a soloist.
The combined choir only has two full rehearsals during the year with the second rehearsal at the performance venue on the day of the concert.
Professional sound and lighting technicians are used for the performance, which is captured on DVD as a testimony for the students of their memorable experience.
Students who took part in the choral festival said it improved their singing, built confidence, made them feel less self-conscious and was fun.
Many said the experience was a plus for future opportunities at secondary school and beyond.
