It's on to State for Qualifiers from District Music Festival

All of the musically talented Chinook students taking vocal solos or duets to District Music Festival, which was held on April 5-6 in Shelby, received either Excellent or Superior ratings. Out of seven pieces, five have advanced to perform at state. Those going to State are Lincy Johnson, Cristina Shackelford, Gracie Warburton, Syrus Pomeroy and Molly Halingstad.

At District Music Festival, those students in high school band and high school choir performed on Friday. Lincy Johnson, Cristina Shackelford, Gracie Warburton, Syrus Pomeroy, Molly Halingstad, and Cameron Huestis performed solos or duets on Saturday.

District festival is an adjudicated event where high school music students perform and adjudicators give the performance a score and rating. The choir received one superior rating and two excellent ratings, and the band received excellent ratings from all adjudicators.

To earn their superior ratings, Lincy Johnson, a soprano, sang “Love Has Eyes” by Sir Henry Bishop; Johnson then joined with alto Cristina Shackelford to sing “Dodi Li” arranged by Doreen Rao. Another soprano, Gracie Warburton sang “She’s Like the Swallow” arranged by Carl Strommen, and baritone Syrus Pomeroy sang “Danny Boy” arranged by Julie Knowles. To round out the group of State Qualifiers, alto, Molly Halingstad performed “Amazing Grace” arranged by Jay Althouse.

Performers who earn a superior rating advance to State Music Festival, which will be held this year on May 3-4 in Helena.