By Emily Strauser
On May 23rd, 2012, in
the auditorium here at Sterling High School, at approximately 7:00 PM, the 25th
Annual Spring Choral Concert was held. Before the performance, Mr. Mackes, the
choral director, answered a couple of questions. When asked why he picked some German pieces
for the program this year, he replied, “Each year, when I listen to the kids I
have, I pick the songs to fit their voices. When I listened to these pieces, I
thought that would fit the voices I have.” Then, since there are some students who
were performing their very last concert that night, he was asked if he had
anything to say to his graduating seniors. This was his response: “I hope the
music classes had some meaning, and I hope they continue to be involved in the
musical arts. I also hope they’ve enjoyed the experience they’ve had here.”
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| Students perform during the Spring Choral Concert |
The program was full of lovely
music, and it brought out the best in this year’s chorus. It began with some
traditional music, plus a song from the musical, “Pippin,” followed by the
men’s chorus singing the song “For the Longest Time.” After that, the audience
was transported back in time to nineteenth century Vienna, and the chorus sang
four beautiful pieces, in German, from the time period. The first half ended
with Mr. Mackes’s favorite song from this year’s program: “Roses from the
South.” Musicians from outside of the school came in to accompany some of the
music, making the sounds of the music seem even more pleasant than they already
were.
Nearing the end of the
intermission, the chorus and some alumni had a big surprise for Mr. Mackes. In
celebration of the 25th anniversary, the members of the chorus and
the group of alumni got together and sang the “Hallelujah Chorus,” a song that
all of them knew. They were accompanied by the outside band and Mr. Goldeck.
After the intermission, the
Silvertones really showed off their stuff! They sang and danced, performing
music from the 1940s and introducing the audience to the boogey and swing of
the music from that decade.
Soon after the Silvertones had gone
on, the rest of the chorus joined back with them for one final treat. They all
performed a medley of songs from the musical “Wicked,” including the women’s
chorus with the song “Popular.” This showed to be a great finale, and the
audience couldn’t have been more entertained.
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| Senior Allison Korn |
This year’s choral concert couldn’t
have been better than it had been that evening, for it was a roaring success.
The music was great, and the enthusiastic audience was just as wonderful as the
music. It was fun, entertaining, and definitely a concert to remember.
Congratulations, Mr. Mackes, for twenty-five years of fantastic musical
performances with the school’s chorus, and may there be many more concerts just
as great as this one for years to come!
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