In spite of the slight chill in the air, the Performing Arts Centre was packed to capacity on Monday and Tuesday, May 16-17 as Gracenotes, Rhapsody Girls & Tiny Tenors and Tiny Gracenotes took to the stage for the spring recital.
Their music teacher Rhonda Sylvester was very pleased with all the students.
"I thought both days went well," said Sylvester.
Music for recitals included all choral pieces performed during the music festival as well as a variety of extra group songs that were learned in a few weeks to help round out the show.
"Because our concerts are made up from my own creativity and festival rules don't need to be followed, I like to add selections that can be easily choreographed and costumed to help provide an entertaining and musical evening for both students and audience alike," said Sylvester. "It's kind of a time to let down our hair, be silly and really have some fun together."
According to Sylvester, year-end concerts are always very difficult to get through.
"The students and I spend countless hours together throughout the year and we really become a strong musical family," added Sylvester. "It's so lovely to watch bonds being created through music, creativity and team work and I love how the younger students look up to the older ones as leaders."
"Choir can truly bring out a sense of passion and sensitivity within ourselves that can only be created by music and when it's time to say good bye to one another, whether it be only for summer break or whether it be saying good bye to our graduates, it affects us all," noted Sylvester as she recalled all the good times she has had with her students over the year.
However, Sylvester's role in training voices and guiding her students is far from over with provincial festival in Edmonton for solo singers round the corner.
"These are my students who sang at the local festival level and were then recommended on to the Alberta Provincial Music Festival and will be performing on Tuesday to Saturday of this week," said Sylvester.
Sylvester's students will be participating in the musical theatre and vocal solo section of the festival and include Hudson Miller, Emma Werbowesky, Chloe Shingoose, Aiden Kobi, Joseph Brigley, Alexandra Brigley and Kaylee Somerville.