BASH Chorus Students Sing Their Way to Top Marks

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They are not competing for a spot on American Idol or The Voice, but every year countless students across Pennsylvania step up and sing for judges who evaluate their performances. Students receive a numerical score, and that score determines whether or not they made the grade to be accepted into County and/or District Chorus. Twenty-one Boyertown Area Sr High (BASH) students have recently achieved that honor.

County Chorus, a project of the Berks County Music Educators Association (BMEA), is open to students in grades 10-12, while District Chorus, conducted by the Pennsylvania Music Education Association (PMEA), accepts vocalists from grades 7-12.

The sponsoring organizations select a piece of music for the audition and students work with their school choir director and sometimes private voice teachers to learn the piece. Practice is a must. The audition pieces are on a cycle and repeat every five years.

Mr. Jeffrey K. Brunner, Boyertown Area Senior High (BASH) vocal music teacher, notes that the audition selection is always challenging because it comes from older classical, and not contemporary, genres. Brunner explains, “The range is challenging and requires students to stretch their vocal flex, dynamics, and rhythm. Normally,” he says, “students would not have an opportunity to sing these major classical works during their high school experience.” This year’s audition piece was “Achieved is the Glorious Work” from Hayden’s Creation.

The District 10 Chorus Festival is scheduled for Jan. 12-14, 2023 at Bangor Area High School. At that event, students will have an opportunity to audition for Regionals. This next level of competition requires students to work on their own to learn 7-10 challenging songs, knowing only that one of them will be the audition piece.

Following the District Festival, County Chorus will combine with County Band and County Orchestra for a festival and concert event at Kutztown University Jan. 18-22, 2023.

As with the challenge of the audition, Brunner sees many benefits for his students in their participation in these music festivals. “They get to spend time with their peers from other schools. Long term friendships result, and friendly rivalries motivate students to strive for improvement. Students also get an opportunity to work with a guest conductor, and I can learn new techniques as I watch the guest conductor work with students,” explains Brunner. “The kids and I have a great time sharing these experiences and learning outside the classroom,” he concludes.    

The following BASH students have qualified for participation in County and/or District Chorus:

Abigail Breidenbach, soprano 1
Jack Burrell, tenor
Joey Casey, tenor
Ryleigh Ehst, soprano 2
Daniel Freed, bass 2
Emily Gates, alto 1
Liam Glackin, bass 2
Megan Green, alto 2
Olivia Helmer, soprano 1
Lacie Hickman, alto 1
Grace Major, soprano 1
Autumn Nuss, soprano 1
Cassidy Nuss, soprano 2
Katelyn O'Connor, soprano 1
Hannah Paul, alto 1
Adam Pensyl, bass 1
Tia Ryan, soprano 1
Henry Smith, bass 2
Emily Wambold, soprano 2
Emma Wyatt, Soprano 2
Kolby Grim, 9th grade, bass 1, PMEA District 10 Chorus
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