Choir Makes Top-mark Impression! Friday, April 17, 2009 By Anne Ruuskanen Choir students stand on the Northwest Missouri State University stage, making an outstanding performance of both their songs. - Advertising Cameron High School Choir combined with the Chorus class and made their way to contest in Maryville Saturday April 4. The contest was held at Northwest Missouri State University, attended by 103 students from CHS. The categories competed in included Womens' Choir, Mens' Choir, Mixed Choir, and Chamber Choir. The buses for Northwest left the CHS parking lot at 6:45 on Saturday morning. Students were tired and excited for the event before them, many chatting with their friends or catching the sleep they missed. Once the buses arrived, students filed into the dressing rooms to change. Jazz Choir members had to wear their dresses and tuxes beneath their robes for performances. Mens' Choir was to perform first so the men really had to hurry. The girls then had free time before their performance and some took the opportunity to listen to some of the other choirs performing. They included choirs such as South Harrison, Savannah, and St. Joseph Central. The Mens' Choir performed the songs Hiding Place and What Shall We do With a Drunken Sailor. Their performances on stage and sightreading earned them outstanding I's.   All songs had been in practice for many months before the time came. Students worked hard each day in practice to earn their scores. "Each student gets frustrated over different things. It might be that sections aren't working as well as they would like, they're not making the progress they would like to, and the songs themselves may get confusing sometimes," said Choral Director Mr. von Glahn. Students get frustrated each day, whether it be from a wrong note they have problems with or the tension that grew among the students.   Senior Jessie Kirkwood said, "It was really the sightreading that frustrated me the most. "   After several hours of waiting, Mixed Choir was to perform next. The anticipation for new members was growing, and even for those who were at contest for their second time. Once on stage they performed the songs Dire Ton, a French love song, and The Little White Hen. Both songs earned them a I, and their sightreading was a 1 as well. After their performance, the Choir and Chorus students made their way to the Student Union for lunch.   When lunch was finished Womens Choir performed next. After their successful warm up they went on stage to perform. Their songs Heart, We Will Forget Him by Emily Dickinson and The Bells based off the poem by Edgar Allen Poe received 1s. Sightreading was also a successful 1 in performance.  Once Womens' Choir was finished the Chorus and Choir students left on the buses. Jazz Choir members remained behind to wait for their performance.   "I think the students were really excited about the scores because they were so good and we worked really hard on them," explained Sophomore Reba Spiegelharlter.    Finally the time came later in the afternoon, and the members of the Jazz Choir, who serves as the Chamber Choir at contest, made their way to the warm-up room for the last time. For their performance they sang Salmo 150 and Set Me as a Seal. They too earned a I for an outstanding performance. All performances and groups earned I's across the board! The day ended well for everyone in both classes. Another day at contest had come to an end successfully. "A lot of the students were really excited on the way home, even if they were really tired from being at contest so long, " Jessie said at the end. Congratulations goes out to the choirs and Director Mr. VonGlahn for its great accomplishment! The choir can be seen in action again May 10 for its annual spring concert.

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