Even though school is out for the summer, the work is not stopping for the Linden Choir because they have landed a spot in the much-anticipated World Choir Games, which will bring choirs and choruses from all over the world to Cincinnati July 4-14, the first time the Games have been in the U.S.
The fifth- and sixth-graders of Linden Elementary will perform for a noncompetitive Friendship Concert at 2 p.m. July 8 in Cedar Village in Mason.
The concert completes a successful year for the group, which earned the title Grand Champion at the Kings Island Music Showcase Festival last month.
“This is a hard-working group of students,” Young said, noting that this is a volunteer chorus that practices before and after school.
Hamilton’s Elementary Honors Choir, directed by Karen Mail, will also perform at the World Choir Games, time and venue to be announced.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for your students to perform in an international festival,” said Hamilton’s Director of Fine Arts Laurin Sprague.
The Hamilton High show choir Rhapsody in Blue had been set to perform in a competitive portion of the event but was forced to withdraw after learning that there would be a $100 per student participation fee on top of the $150 registration fee, a price that they just couldn’t afford for a group of 56 performers plus another 10 crew members, Sprague said.
In addition, the group would have had to rent an air-conditioned bus to compete in the games because they wouldn’t have been provided with dressing rooms and would have to arrive in costume.
“It was very limited, what they were offering,” Sprague said. “It was more or less get off the bus, sing, get back on the bus.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.
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