Performing with state’s best
Chemistry and commitment. If you ask Porterville High School’s Madrigals choir what sets this year’s group apart, those are two qualities they will mention-qualities that have created a unique opportunity to perform with the best high school vocal arts ensembles in California.
The 29-member group is leaving Thursday morning for Chapman University in Orange County, where they will be one of only seven high school choirs in the state to perform at the 2018 California Music Educators Association Allstate Choral Festival.
“I just couldn’t be prouder of this group and how hard they’ve worked,” said Madrigals director Aaron Snell. “They’ve been a joy and I’m very excited for them.”
The prerequisites to even be eligible to apply for the statewide festival are daunting. Participating groups must have received a unanimous Superior rating at a CMEA sanctioned festival during spring semester of 2017, and must also submit a CD recording of a performance of two contrasting music pieces.
As a result, the invitation to perform at this year’s State festival was earned by the performance of last year’s Madrigal group.
“Going to State this year really does build off of last year’s group, but the success they’re going to have this week is all their own,” said Snell.
Returning Madrigals have provided experience and leadership for the group’s new members. About half of the group is new this year, and they appreciate the efforts of last year’s group to earn a spot in this year’s state festival, and have embraced the challenge of meeting (and hopefully exceeding) their level of performance.
“We’re really grateful to have been able to come after such an amazing group,” said sophomore Madrigal Rebecca Keele.
The 2018 Madrigals proved they were ready to perform with the best in the state at last week’s Central Section CMEA festival. Like last year’s group, they received a unanimous Superior rating from the three judges, but this year’s average score of 99 out of 100 (including a perfect 100 score from one judge) are the highest in Madrigals history.
“This group has been one of my most rewarding groups to teach in my career,” said Snell. “I’ve had groups that were as talented but not as committed, and I’ve had groups that were very committed and enthusiastic but not as talented. This year has been the perfect combination of talent, commitment and experience.”
Junior Madrigal Emma Bamsch feels that one ingredient in the recipe for this year’s success has been their ability to be friends as well as musicians.
“I think this group has really bonded. We have a really good friendship, so that helps. We don’t dread rehearsals, and we can hang out like a big family,” said Bamsch.
The Madrigals will be performing two selections at the festival that showcase their maturity and the depth of their musicianship. “Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine” is a complex, nine-minute piece by Grammy-award winning composer Eric Whitacre that challenges even the best high school choirs.
“High school groups hardly ever perform it because it’s an incredibly difficult piece of music, but these guys have nailed it,” said Snell.
“Janger” is a Balinese folk song that features separate choreography elements for male and female performers. During its performance, male Madrigal members are seated in front in two rows and make hand and arm movements in coordination with the music, while female members stand in two semicircles behind them and perform elaborate dance steps with golden fans in their hands.
Sung entirely in Balinese, Snell said his group listened to recordings of Indonesian women speaking the words of the song so they could perfect their pronunciation.
“It’s high level literature we’re performing-college level, not high school level-- and this group can pull it off this year. They’ve exceeded my expectations,” said Snell.
Like regional CMEA events, groups performing at the state festival will receive written and recorded comments from a panel of three prominent adjudicators, and will receive designations of “Superior,” “Excellent” or “Good” on the performance of
their selections.
CMEA describes receiving a Superior rating at the California State Choral Festival as the crowning achievement for ensembles in the state of California. Although that’s an accolade that Snell and the Madrigals would love to bring back to Porterville High School with them, being selected to perform with the state’s best is an honor in itself.
“To be evaluated at such a high level is very validating for the students to be part of something really special,” said Snell. “To have that confidence knowing that you’re one of the best in the state and achieving that high level of success really makes a mark in your high school career, and it’s something they’ll be able to look back on hopefully for the rest of their lives.”
After Thursday’s festival performance, the group will visit Cal State Long Beach on Friday to work with choral director Jonathan Talberg and later visit the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. They will visit Universal Studios on Saturday.