DHS, DMS choirs advance to state
Published 11:17 pm Friday, February 27, 2009
The Demopolis High School and Demopolis Middle School choirs each received superior ratings at the district competition and will participate in the state competition on April 22 at Middlebrook Baptist Church in Birmingham.
The District 2 competition was also held at Middlebrook Baptist Church in Birmingham, featuring 45 choirs competing over two days on Feb. 19-20.
“The high school’s two selections were ‘Soon I Will Be Done’ and ‘Dona Nobis Pacem,’” said choir director Arletha Perry. “The middle school performed ‘The Peace I Leave With You’ and ‘Hallelujah Canon.’
“The district performance assessment is held each year in the fall. That serves as a preliminary for state competition. All choirs there must perform two classical selections in a public performance before three judges. Then, they have to sight-read for one judge.”
“They have to get overall 1’s, overall superior ratings, scoring from 90 to 100, and both of our choirs did it,” she said.
“The choirs were judged on tone, balance, intonation and discipline. Our choirs were very disciplined that day.”
Last year, the choirs did not do so well with sight-reading, scoring an 88. This year, the choirs scored a 95.
“After state, the nationals will be held in Atlanta, Ga., in May, and we’re going all the way!” Perry said.