Roland-Story Spring Choir Concert

By Story G.

A wonderful way to kick off the new year after winter break was with a performance by our Roland-Story Choir! The choir performed a range of challenging pieces, all conducted by our very own choir director, Landon Stalzer. The performers were divided into several talented groups: the Bass Choir, Treble Choir, Mixed Choir, Chamber Choir, Thor's Men, and Valkyries.

The choir students practiced daily during the fifth period. During these practices, they warmed up with various vocal exercises, such as singing scales up and down the staff. After warm-ups, students sang their choir pieces and received feedback on aspects like dynamics, consonants, sound quality, and more. Practices typically lasted 25 minutes but could extend up to 50 minutes. The choir rehearsed for two months before performing the selected pieces.

The concert opened with two outstanding songs performed by the Bass Choir. This group is open to any male student who selects choir as an elective. Their upbeat songs invoked a sense of joy among the audience. Following the Bass Choir, Thor's Men, a student-led group showcasing what they had learned in choir, performed a humorous piece that had the audience laughing out loud.

Next up was the Treble Choir, which also performed two songs, one of which was designed to mimic the sound of a drum beat. The Treble Choir is for any female student who chooses choir as an elective. After them, the Valkyries, another student-led female group, delivered a beautifully composed song.

The concert concluded with a combined performance from both the Bass and Treble Choirs, forming a Mixed Choir. Together, they skillfully brought the performance to a close, leaving the audience in awe with their powerful sound. Overall, the choir students agreed that it was a memorable concert that reminded them of their passion for performing.

Location: 1009 Story St, Story City, IA 50248, USA

Popular posts from this blog

Back in the Swing of Things: The Return of Roland-Story’s Jazz Band

By Mason S. The Roland-Story Jazz Band is gearing up for a year of swinging songs, soulful solos, and jaw-dropping performances. After placing 3rd last year at the Iowa Jazz Championships, this year's band has big shoes to fill, especially to keep the rich musical tradition alive and prove that they are one of the top ensembles in the entire state. Students have been working hard to perfect their musical selections, from big-band Jazz Standards to modern funk hits. Lead trombone player Bradey Haberl said, “I think this year's music is some of the best I’ve ever played. It's definitely my favorite by far, but it is also by far the most difficult music we have ever played. This increased difficulty in music is not without reason. The rhythm section currently comprises all returning players: Aubrey Britten on bass, Cael Vermeer on piano, Mason Schnurstein on guitar, with Ella Murphy and Eli Van Hove both on percussion. The rhythm section is the glue that keeps the band togethe...
Read more

Roland-Story at The Iowa Jazz Championships

By Bradey H. On April 2nd, the Roland-Story Jazz Band played at the Scheman Building in Ames for the annual Iowa Jazz Championships. After placing first at the SCIBA (South Central Iowa Band Association) Jazz Festival to qualify for the championships, the band continued participating in contests and practicing four times a week to improve for this performance. Just a few weeks earlier, the band had clinics with retired Southeast Polk band director Ted Hagan and Drake jazz professor Bob Meunier. Using the advice from these two experts, the band finished polishing the four pieces they were going to play for the championships. The songs to be performed were “Hipper by the Dozen” by Al Horney, “Chicken Scratch” by Kris Berg, “Sagebrush” by Annie Booth, and “Hit the Bricks” by Gordon Goodwin. The band had only performed “Sagebrush” once before, so a majority of the practice time was devoted to it. In the final days leading up to the event, the band’s director, Kevin Masemann, made the final...
Read more

The Road to State

By Kelsey J. We had been preparing for this one day for months. State came and went for the Roland-Story Jazz band. But it was the preparation leading up to it that mattered the most. The Roland-Story Jazz Band was set to compete on April 8th at 2:45 pm. The two weeks leading up to it were very stressful and filled with tons of practice. Between sectionals, full band practices, and clinics we were booked tight.  To be able to become better, you have to seek the help of the very best along the way. The Roland-Story Jazz band’s first clinic was with Bob Neunier. He came and listened to the band on March 31st. Bob is the Professor of Percussion & Director of Bands at Drake University, where he is the conductor of the wind symphony and director of percussion studies. The kids brought him in to help give tips and advice to the band. With his elite skill set, he helped to lock in the rhythm with the rest of the band. He gave new ideas and insights on how we could take our band from g...
Read more