The California Middle School Vocal Music Classes presented their Spring Concert Friday, May 8, at the California High School Auditorium. The concert was presented by the Sixth Grade Music Connections and the 7/8th Grade Pinto Express choirs.
As it does every year, the concert consisted of a variety of music, but this time focused on some folk songs from America and other world cultures.
Music Connections performed "Laudamus Te", "Red River Dances (Red River Valley, Chicken on a Fence Post, and Old Joe Clark)", "Home" by Amy F. Bernon. After the awards were presented, Music Connections performed "Home" by Greg Holden and Drew Pearson, arranged by Janet Day, and "I Was Here."
Pinto Express performed "Little Beggarman" (Irish folk song), "Hala Lala Layya" (Folk song from Lebanon accompanied by Nathan Korte and Darby Hudson on the Djembe drum), "All the Pretty Little Horses" (American folk song with solos by Cory Kuykendall and Alyssa Sabartinelli). After awards were presented, Pinto Express performed "Jubilate Deo" and "Come in from the Firefly Darkness" (with solos by Emily Gray, Madison Thompson and Nathan Pickering.)
Music Connections performers
Part One - Alicia Alamazan, Riley Bisges, Lauren Dietzel, L.J. Faulkner, Lily Hart, Jakson Henry, Trenten Irey, Tristan Liebi, Israel Lovins and Lauren Spillars. Part Two - Bryant Davis, Dawson Gump, Lauren Hill, Eric Horne, Emanuel Isidro, Mariah Mills, Nolan Sturm, Kyla Sweeney and Gwen Yarnell.
Pinto Express performers
Sopranos - Anizza Avilez, Allison Bailey, Megan Bailey, Yaneli Banda, Emily Bilyeu, Maylee Caudel, Briana Ceballos, Molly Forsythe, Tania Gallegos, Emily Gray, Morgan Kempfer, Jasmine Kerley,Paige Lamm, Angelica Lemus, Lesley Leon, Breanna Roberts, Alyssa Sabartinelli and Zoe Zimmerman. Altos - Olivia Bahr, Trinity Bays, Jenna Berendzen, Mateesa Crowley, Kendar Dunham, Lucia Embry, Grace Henley, Hannah Hill, Georgia Hoellering, Darby Hudson, Cora Kuykendall, Jazmine Salmons, Makayla Schanzmeyer, Hailey Schepers, Hailey Tarrants and Madison Thompson. Baritones - Austin Bolin, David Cisneros, Alex Meisenheimer, Chatman Pardoe, Nathan Pickering, Aaron Spillars, Scott Staton, Nathan Korte and Kraig Walker.
Awards given for accomplishments for the 2014-15 school year included certificates to those who attended the WCMMEA All District Choirs for JH in November of 2014 and Sixth Grade in March of 2015. A total of 32 CMS middle school singers were involved in these events.
Two were recognized for perfect attendance in the after-school Music Connections Sixth Grade Choir: Riley Bisges and Lauren Dietzel.
Pinto Express singers with the highest grades were recognized. The Choir Scholars for 2014-15 are: Seventh Grade - Paige Lamm and Hailey Schepers; and Eighth Grade - Molly Forsythe, Grace Henley and Nathan Pickering.
The Director's Choice Award was presented to Eighth Grader Emily Gray for her talent, attitude, encouragement to others and participation in class and extra rehearsals.
Several awards were voted on by the Pinto Express choir members. The CMS Pinto Express STABLE Leaders (Role models who best follow the CMS STABLE Matrix) are, Seventh Grade - Hailey Schepers and Eighth Grade - Molly Forsythe. The Most Improved Singers are, Seventh Grade - Angelica Lemus, and Eighth Grade - Austin Bolin.
The Outstanding CMS Pinto Express Vocalists are, female - Emily Bilyeu and male - Chatman Pardoe.