The Paynesville Area High School Choirs, along with their director, Cheryl Bungum, and ten parent chaperones, spent the weekend of May 9-10 in the Twin Cities, participating at the Music Showcase Festival at Eden Prairie High School and Valleyfair on Saturday and attending a concert at Orchestra Hall by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans on Sunday.
All three choirs (treble, mixed, and madrigal) performed at the festival on Saturday, with all three groups receiving superior ratings from the two choral judges. In addition, all three choirs received first place trophies for their categories in the high school division. The Madrigal choir also received the Overall High School Choral Award for the highest score for a high school choir. Accompanists were Erin Vork and Trista Dukowitz.
Some of the comments of the judges were: “Very nice, mature, independent sound”, “Nice tone-very focused. Great unison.” “Excellent pitch, ladies! “Incredible” ‘acappela’ passages.
The choirs and 15 bands from Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Iowa, and Wyoming participated in this festival in Minnesota. Music Showcase Festivals take place in 24 cities around the United States.