Shires shine at vocal jazz event

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
ON WITH THE SHOW — Houlton High School hosted the District VII Vocal Jazz Festival Thursday, March 17 with groups from Easton, Caribou and Presque Isle participating. Striking a pose during their performance are members of the Houlton Junior High Show Choir, front row, Connor Grant; middle from left, Hunter McLaughlin and Laura Beals; and back, Makala Miller, Natalie Rush, Connor Bulley and Haven Rhoda.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Houlton High School’s auditorium was filled with singers from around Aroostook County Thursday evening for the annual District VII Vocal Jazz Festival.
    Groups participating in the evening of singing included Union 122 (New Sweden and Woodland), Show Choir, Caribou Middle School Show Choir, Houlton Junior High Show Choir, Easton Jazz Choir, Presque Isle High School Scat Cats Jazz Choir and Houlton High School Show Choir.
    All of the groups performing advanced to the state Vocal Jazz Music Festival to be held Saturday, April 2 in Ellsworth. Houlton’s Junior High group earned a rating of II, which means “meets the standards for musical performance,” while the high school earned a rating of I, for “exceeds the standards for musical performance.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
DISCO DUDES — Belting out a disco song are, from left, Zach Waite, Zacharia Harvey, Phoenix Crockett and Wyatt Jenkins during the High School Show Choir performance March 17.
    “The kids are really excited to be going on to compete against several other highly talented show choirs, and they’re ready to invest more rehearsal time to prepare for their best performances,” said Jason Anderson, vocal director for SAD 29. “Interestingly enough, I grew up participating in the Ellsworth High School show choir program from 1996-99, and this was during the days of intense competition rivalry between EHS and HHS show choirs. Even though HHS and EHS are no longer competing in the same division, I laugh at the irony of me taking HHS and HJHS show choirs back to my alma mater for a state competition.”
    The junior high squads competed first, while the high school squads took the stage after a break for dinner.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
POSING — Striking a disco pose are, from left, Marcy Hernandez, Brandon Clark and Megan Gerath.
    The Houlton Junior High Show Choir, which featured choreography by Marcy Hernandez and Phoenix Crockett, performed scenes from “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory;” Union 122, under the direction of Jennifer Holmes, performed “The British Invasion,” featuring songs by The Beatles; and Caribou Middle School, under the direction of Vicki King, performed songs from “Sister Act.”
    Members of the Houlton Junior High Show Choir include: Victoria Codrey, Lexi Garcia, Samantha Grahn, Caila Keber, Hunter McLaughlin, Kelly McLaughlin, Makala Miller, Jill Moran, Morgan Nelson, and Mariah O’Neal, with solos by Amira Abouleish, Madelene Anderson, Laura Beals, Nathan Bouchard, Connor Bulley, Adam Casillas, Lexi Emerson, Keegan Fitzpatrick, Connor Grant, Nia Hamilton, Tommy Hannigan, Tyler Hannigan, Lexi Hernandez, Lauren Hogan, Noah Holmes, Jill Howland, Haven Rhoda, Natalie Rush and Caleigh Sullivan.
    The Easton Jazz Choir, under the direction of Pamela Kinsey, performed four a cappella songs; the Presque Isle High School Scat Cats Jazz Choir performed three a cappella songs; and Houlton High School’s Show Choir performed 14 “Disco Favorites” songs.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
PERFORMING — Getting into their performance are junior high students from left, Alexis Hernandez, Natalie Rush and Adam Casillas.
    Members of the Houlton High School Show Choir include: Brandon Clark (soloist), Chelsi Murray, Maryah Ranck (soloist), Ally Carmichael, Danika Fitzpatrick, Tyler Delano (soloist), Avery Kibler, Phoenix Crockett, Megan Gerath, Marina DiMarco, Lucas Anderson, Hannah Chapla, Emma Reed, Ashton Carmichael, Shawn West, Marcy Hernandez, Wyatt Jenkins, Jaclyn Hodgkins, Taylor Forest (soloist), Maggie Russell (soloist), Zacharia Harvey (soloist) and Zach Waite.
    “The groups that performed during the festival received some good feedback from the judges so they can prepare for the state festival,” band director Joe Fagnant said. “It is always good to get in front of a live audience and perform.”