Four local schools came together on Tuesday night for a well attended and wonderful choir performance at the Gardendale High School Auditorium. Mount Olive Elementary, Gardendale Elementary, Bragg Middle School and Gardendale High School showcased their choirs and it was clear that the students, their teachers and the parents and friends in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the night.
Mount Olive Elementary began the night as choir teacher, Monica Johnson, led the choir students through “Possibilities” and “We Are Here,” both by Teresa Jennings.
They performed beautifully and this led into Gardendale Elementary, under the direction of choir teacher Hunter Goff.
Goff told the packed house that the Ukraine war has made him hope that the Ukrainian people have songs they can sing and reinforced the need for Americans to hold on to our songs and not forget that we have them. He encouraged the audience to stand and participate, along with the GES choir, in singing “This is America.”
After everyone stood and joined in, the GES choir continued for three more songs, “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho”, “Annie Medley” and “Oh Danny Boy.”
It was a strong performance by the GES choir as they handed over the stage to the Bragg Middle School choir and their choir teacher, Debbie Gray.
Bragg sang with feeling as they covered “The Wind,” ‘Gloria Deo!,” and “A Festive Alleluia.”
The Gardendale High School choir followed Bragg and their choir teacher, Cara Thomas, told the audience just how happy she was after the pandemic to have everyone together and singing. Ms. Thomas expressed how much music had meant to her growing up and that it took on even more meaning as she went through each stage of school singing with her friends.
An important message of the night, not lost on those in attendance, was that music is an important part of our culture and community. Music brings people together.
The GHS choir showed their maturity as a seasoned group as they navigated through “Caritas Abundat,” “Jubilate Deo” and “Ye Shall Have a Song.”
It was clear how special Cara Thomas is as teacher to her choir students through the kind words from the seniors of the choir and the hugs after the performance.
The night ended off with a combined choir from multiple schools singing “Heroes and Dreamers.”
It was a wonderful night and well done by the choir teachers and choirs.
