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OAKLAND — Every year for almost two decades, Messalonskee High School has hosted the High School Fall Choral Festival, presented by the Maine Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.
The gathering of public and private school choirs from across the state features each group singing three selections for each other in a non-competitive demonstration of each school’s dedication to the choral art. The Messalonskee High School Performing Arts Center, where the festival will be held Nov. 6, is perfect for such a gathering as some years over eight hundred students have participated.
Music teacher Andy Forster and his Music Production Class help out by recording each ensemble using state-of-the-art recording equipment, and present each school with a recording of their performance.
Kevin Rhein, Messalonskee High School Concert Choir director, said he and his wfie, Pamela, “are always delighted to host the festival.”
“It is so affirming for the students to not only share the results of their hard work, but to also delight in the revelation that students all over the state share their deep love for choral music making,” said Rhein, who also directs select ensembles.
The festival has become so popular with Maine choral programs that another southern site had to be created to replicate the experience, Rhein said. Time slots would be filled within a half hour of posting the announcement that we were ready for submissions.
Current research confirms that singing in choral groups is a healthy lifelong endeavor and statistics show that more than 54 million American citizens enjoy singing in choral groups.
Regional School Unit 18, which includes Oakland, Belgrade, Rome, China and Sidney, is known across the state as having an outstanding music program, Rhein said. Hosting “such a large and educationally meaningful festival is one reason that we can be proud of our performing arts classes,” he said.
PHOTO: The Messalonskee High School treble ensemble. (Submitted photo)
