teachers to the Classic Center in Athens to participate in the Georgia Music Educators Association Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus.
The event, held Jan. 9 and 10, brought together young chorus students from across the state for two days of rehearsals and musical exploration. Students learned a wide variety of music under the direction of two highly regarded clinicians:
A select group of talented students from Gray Elementary, Dames Ferry Elementary, and Mattie Wells Elementary traveled with their music Dr. Stanton Usher, choral director at Roswell High School, and Dena Byers, artistic director of the Durham Children’s Choir and a teacher at Hillandale Elementary School. The event culminated in a performance that showcased the students’ dedication and musical growth.
Gray Elementary’s music teacher, Monica Tritto, provided the following details about the event: “All of the Jones County participants were in the Allegro choir, which performed Aiken Drum, arranged by Blake Richter, and I See the Moon by Douglas Beam under the direction of Ms. Dena Byers, as well as Fly by Ayrian Norman and Hope Is the Thing with Feathers by Victor C. Johnson under the direction of Dr.
Stanton Usher. They then joined the Vivace choir for This Is Your Time by J.
Reese Norris, conducted by Ms. Dena Byers,” Tritto said.
Lisa Mullis, music teacher at Mattie Wells Elementary, offered insight into the students’ preparation.
“Our students learned the five pieces before the event with their music teachers and then perfected them by practicing in creative ways to present them for the performance,” Mullis said.
She added that the event offered a unique, largescale musical opportunity for the students.
“Our students had the wonderful opportunity to sing with over 250 other students selected from elementary schools around the state of Georgia. It is amazing to hear all their beautiful voices singing with such a large group.
For the last piece, we combined with the other choir, totaling 500 singers.
It is such a great experience to be able to be part of a group like this and sing more difficult music with so many singers,” she said.
Dames Ferry Elementary’s music teacher, Samantha Whatley, shared the significance of an event like this for Jones County’s young choral students.
“The benefit of attending Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus is that students get to make beautiful music with people just like them from all over the state of Georgia, build friendships, and experience the sense of community that music so often fosters. To watch 500 students put on such a spectacular performance together after only 24 hours of knowing each other and rehearsing a handful of times is a truly magnificent thing to witness,” Whatley said.
The selected students from Gray Elementary who participated were Quinn Ehler, Madison Eidson, Madisyn Gibson, Madden Sapp, and Claire Harrison.
Tritto said Gibson was also selected for a separately auditioned small ensemble, an opportunity she described as an excellent and unforgettable experience.
“My favorite song we performed at honor chorus was Fly, and I was so excited to be chosen to be in the small group that sang a special part. The guest conductors were a lot of fun. Singing with the whole group of singers from around the state was a great experience, and I’ve never gotten to do anything like that. The audience was so big. There were a lot of people there. I will always remember how beautiful it was,” Gibson said.
Addalyn Maddox, Kalee Sanders, Paisleigh Kaegi, Kynlee Aaron, and Samiyah Bowdry were chosen to represent Mattie Wells Elementary.
Kaegi and Bowdry were also selected for the auditioned small group ensemble.
“It was so fun because we got to sing with a big group, and Fly was our favorite song,” Kaegi said.
Zoey Childs and Abigail Robinson, both from Dames Ferry Elementary, also participated.
“My favorite part of attending Honor Choir was to hear the songs with all of the different instruments. It was also cool to be there and get to talk to everyone. It was just so fun,” Robinson said.
Mullis summed up the benefit of young musicians participating in events of this scale.
“They did an outstanding job not only performing but also representing Jones County well with fantastic behavior.
Events like these will help prepare them for bigger and better things in music, as well as many other pursuits in life,” she said.
