Special to
L’Observateur

NEW ORLEANS — In late October, nine J.B. Martin Cougar Choir members traveled to New Orleans to participate in Louisiana’s state division of the American Choral Directors Association’s All-State Choir event.

The workshops, rehearsals and classes took place at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, with the final performance at the First Baptist Church of New Orleans.

Sixth graders Abby Matherne, Martalisa Fischer, Gabrielle LeBlanc, Marley Cortez and Mandy Mire were chosen out of hundreds of auditions to take part in the Louisiana All-State Children’s Choir.

Their conductor, Joan Gregoryk, is a well known children’s choir director, who selected “Let Beauty Awake” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, “Two Bartok Songs” by Bela Bartok, “Winds” by Larysa Kuzmenko, “The Land of Nod” by Paul Hennessee, “Bowling Green (Appalachian Folk Song)” by Nick Page and “An American Anthem” arranged by Alan Naplan for the students to perform.

The Children’s Choir received a standing ovation at the end of the performance, which led into the Junior High All-State Treble Choir that students Laura Broussard, Marigny Cortez, Kayla Champagne and Savannah Kornegay were honored to be part of.

The all women’s choir consisting of seventh through ninth graders from around the state performed.

The conductor for the Treble Choir was Lynne Gackle, a renowned conductor from the region selected pieces “Pergolesi Suite” edited by: Doreen Rao, “Lux Aeterna” by Randall Stroope, “Sanctus” by Rupert Lang, “The Sky is Strung with Glory” by Andrea Ramsey, “La Violette” by Louisiana native Susan Brumfield and “He Never Failed Me Yet” by Robert Ray and arranged by Drew Collins that enhanced the students’ capabilities, as well as challenged them to a higher level of performance.

While the students rehearsed with their prospective clinicians, Choir Director Ginny Medina-Hamilton was able to participate in several professional development workshops and classes with college choir directors and educators from around the south.

Medina-Hamilton had composer Earlene Rentz sign a composition called “Goin’ Home on A Cloud,” which the J.B. Martin Seventh Grade Choir will be performing at an upcoming concert in December.

Rentz signed the music and wished the J.B. Martin choir students all the best in their future concerts.