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600 students to perform in Secondary Choral Festival

E.L. Hubbard Isaac Williams, second from left, rehearses with the Cutting Edge Showchoir at Garfield Junior High Thursday, October 22.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Cutting Edge Show Choir

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By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer Updated 7:42 AM Monday, October 26, 2009

HAMILTON — Teaching students to sing is more than just making pretty music. It’s also good academics.

So when 600 of Hamilton Schools’ finest singers take to the stage Tuesday, Oct. 27, they’re enhancing their education as well as entertaining the audience.

“In a 2009 study commissioned by Chorus America, students who are involved in singing groups demonstrate increased social skills, increased engagement in school and increased academic success,” said Laurin Sprague, the high school’s director of fine arts. “In the Hamilton Schools, we have seen the impact on students as they come together to work as a team to sing in harmony with one another.”

The sixth Annual Secondary Choral Festival will feature students from all four secondary schools including the Garfield Middle School 8th Grade Concert Choir, under the direction of Kristin Anderson, the Wilson Middle School 8th Grade Chorale under the direction of David Anderson; Cutting Edge Showchoir under the direction of Kristin and David Anderson, Fascinating Showchoir under the direction of Melynda Caswell; and the Hamilton Freshman Voices, Hamilton High School Concert Chorale and Rhapsody in Blue Show Choir under the direction of Christina Fox.

Musical selections run the gamut from classical music from Handel to “Chicago” by contemporary singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens.

“I am very proud of our choral music program,” Sprague said. “When people see our students singing and moving, you know that it brings them great satisfaction.”

At the end of the evening, after each of the choirs have performed, all of the students join to sing one piece together, Sprague said.

“It is very impressive and moving when so many students sing at once,” he said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.

how to go

WHAT: Hamilton City Schools Secondary Choral Festival

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27

WHERE: Hamilton Freshman School Gymnasium, 2260 NW Washington Blvd., Hamilton

ADMISSION: Free, canned food requested

INFO: (513) 887-4816

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