Musical groups from Clarkston schools have a lot to be singing about lately.
Several groups earned high division ranking at the District 4 Choral Festival on March. 8. The very next night, 85 students, grades 4-9, displayed their skills for friends and family members at the ‘Broadway Melodies? musical at Clarkston Junior High School.
Danielle Blanchard, instructor of choir, theater arts and piano and music technology at CJHS, noted the group’s performances as a continuation of the successful history.
‘This is a special group of choirs in that their work ethic has been very strong,? Blanchard wrote in an e-mail to The Clarkston News. ‘In addition, due to the reconfiguration of our building grade levels, there are members of choir who have been with me for four years. That’s some true academic commitment to excellence, and we just had to take advantage of this opportunity to let the public hear what singers this age can sound like when they put all that love and commitment into action through hard work.?
Putting together ‘Broadway Melodies? was a first attempt to combine the junior high school musical groups with groups from elementary and middle schools.
‘The fourth through seventh grade Honors Choir was something I wanted to do to reachout to students we fully expect will be our leaders as they become choirmembers here at Clarkston Junior High in the future,? Blanchard wrote.
Blanchard said flyers were sent to attract new participants to the program, and the combined group of 85 students met after school, with only seven group practice sessions before the concert.
The performance marked the end of weeks of preparation but only the beginning the new expansion planned for the musical program.
‘I’m very excited about the newly updated Piano/Music Technology courses we have. We will have a website up very soon (www.ClarkstonMusic.com) to feature a rotation of arrangements and compositions created by piano and choir students,? Blanchard wrote. ‘Future fans of our composers will be able to subscribe to podcasts (performances that can be downloaded onto a portable MP3 player) that give insight into the creative and learning process while we balance playing skills with functional improvisation and multimedia.?
The work needed for these projects to move forward is largely credited to Blanchard, and her efforts were recognized during the March 13 Clarkston School Board meeting as part of employee recognition.
‘When it comes to going above and beyond in this area, over the last year I’ve had the pleasure to know and really respect the work that Danielle has done,? said Shawn Ryan, CJHS Principal, as he presented Blanchard for her recognition nomination. ‘It was as excellent program. ‘A lot of work went into it and I think we definitely want to identify Danielle for that.?