HCA Choirs Make Impression at Darien Lake Music Festival

The Holy Cross Academy music department returned to Darien Lake on June 5 to perform at the annual Darien Lake Music Festival and Competition.   

HCA brought four groups:  Select Choir, Senior Choir, Junior Choir, and Wind Ensemble.

The Select Choir defended their 2009 championship in the Gospel category with a program that included
“Who’ll Be a Witness,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” and “Everybody’s Boppin’.”  Senior and soprano Teresa Street was recognized as one of three outstanding soloists for the entire festival.

The Senior Choir took fifth place in their category, performing “The Voice”, made famous by Celtic Women, and a medley from “Les Miserables.”  The Junior Choir placed third out of nine in their category, separated from first by only 35 hundredths of a point.  They impressed judges with a three movement program piece in Spanish, a ballad, and Jay Althouse’s spiritual “Follow Me to Jordan.”

The Wind Ensemble was also third in their class, performing Michael Story’s “51 Pegasus” and “The Blackhawk March” by Jack Bullock.

 “This is another significant step for us,” said HCA Music Director Scott Rutledge.  “These kids have worked really hard since last September and have improved so much – it truly astounds me.”

“To be able to work towards this goal and exceed our highest expectations in the short time we’ve been together is a sign of amazing things to come,” he continued.

Now that the music program has come to a close for the 2009-2010 academic year, students will return in September and immediately start rehearsing for major concerts and events.  On December 5, the HCA Choir will perform with the heralded Oneida Area Civic Chorale in their annual Christmas concert.  A return to the Carrier Dome to sing the National Anthem at a Syracuse University basketball game is also in the works.