...lifted their voices to the rafters in Edmonton this past weekend.
After notching provincial recommendations at the Stettler and District Music Festival last month, the two choral ensembles travelled to the Provincial Choral Competition at McDougall United Church in Edmonton on Saturday, May 9, along with their director Rhonda Sylvester and accompanist Sherry Rempel.
Both of the choirs, which regularly place well at provincials, notched first-place finishes in their categories this year.
The Gracenotes competed against the GPRC Conservatory Choir from Grande Prairie and Nottingham Women's Choir of Sherwood Park. The performance of the 13- to 17-year-old girls of the Gracenotes included renditions of “There is Sweet Music Here” and “Aurora Borealis (A Song of Alaska).”
“They always do their best, so that's all I really care (about),” Sylvester said, noting she was proud of both performances.
In the Under 14 Choral Ensemble category, the Rhapsody Girls and Tiny Tenors performed Skallywag and Donkey Riding, their voices competing against those of the Cantilong Children's Choir of St. Albert, the Gilbert Patterson Choir of Lethbridge, the Nottingham Choir of Sherwood Park and the Okotoks Children's Choir of High River.
The spritely and lively performance of the young singers secured them a first-place finish.
Elroy Friessen of Winnipeg, Man., was adjudicator.
The next round of provincial performances are for the solos, in musical theatre and vocal, with several Stettler performers heading to compete, including Alexandra and Joseph Brigley, Chloe Shingoose, Kaylee Somerville and Dacia Gramlick. They take place May 27-30.
The grand finale concert for the community takes place at the Performing Arts Centre in Stettler on Tuesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 20. Performances begin at 7 p.m. and tickets are available at Wells Furniture.