On April 7, two choirs from Bothell High returned home from New York City after participating in the Heritage National Invitational Choral Festival of Gold.
Under the direction of Sheri Erickson, Bel Canto (an auditioned women’s choir) placed first in the women’s category and the Madrigals (an auditioned mixed choir) took second in the mixed category. They were two of 21 choirs from 11 states and one province who met in downtown Manhattan to perform and compete at the majestic St. Bartholomew’s Church.
To be invited to the Heritage Festival of Gold, a choir must have received a gold rating (90 plus) at a previous Heritage Festival. During their performance, each choir was judged and rated by three nationally recognized choral conductors and also given a brief clinic by a fourth.
The festival ended Sunday evening at Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center with performances by the top scoring choirs in each category, an honor choir composed of selected singers from each choir and two selections by a combined choir of all the participating choirs.
Having received a top score, Bel Canto performed at this Lincoln Center concert with renditions of “Vus Vet Zayn” and “I’m Goin’ Up Yonder.”
Besides singing, the 49 students visited Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Chinatown, Little Italy, took a Harbor Dinner Cruise and watched Broadway’s “Lion King.”
Bothell High choirs have participated in festivals at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.; San Francisco, Calif.; and Washington D.C.
Madrigals
Nick Baldwin, Pratyusa Banik, Katelyn Barrows, Kirsten Bayless, Katherine Bourne, Matt Cornwall, Bryce Donelson, Evan Downey, Lizzie Duhamel, Rachel Fisher, Ben Ford, Julian Haiel, Lian Halbert, Graham Hickman, Justin Horner, Estee Kaskes, Anna Kochanski, Sara Kochanski, Sarah Lackenbauer, Madelyne Larsen, Lauren Leith, Megan Little, Melissa McFarland, Christine Moloney, Tyler Muller, Jacob Olason, MacKenzie Otnes, Tyler Sawers, William Scharnikow and Eric Walczak.
Bel Canto
Julie Bourne, Bobbie Brandon, Chanel Craig, Crystal Do, Kaeti Dodd, Allie Duhamel, Shawny Duncan, Monica Hayes, Karlyn Kerr, Natassia Kimbrough, Charley Laas, Melissa Leith, Emily McDonald, Amie Rippeteau, Elisa Santoro, Aleczavia Sether, Laetitia Teeter, Bailey White and Rachelle Whitney.
