Loyola Academy hosted its annual Middle School Choir Festival on Thursday, April 28. Seventy students from four Catholic grade schools (Mary Seat of Wisdom - Park Ridge; Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Glenview; St. Athanasius - Evanston; and The Academy of St. Joan of Arc - Evanston) joined current Loyola chorale students to make beautiful music, have fun and learn more about the choir program at Loyola.
The day was a wonderful opportunity for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to experience singing in a large choir and music-making with students from different schools. After a morning packed with warmups and practice, students enjoyed a pizza luncheon in the East Gym balcony and the chance to socialize with current Loyola students and new friends from neighboring grade schools. A final performance took place in the Chapel after lunch and featured the following songs:
Oh Music, Sweet Music
LA Concert Choir- Build Me Up Buttercup
LA CVE- When the Party’s Over
Be Like the Bird
LA Chorale- Stitches
LA Chambers- For the Longest Time
Sisi Ni Moja
“The repertoire consisted of standard choral pieces that required no previous review as they were taught at the event,” explains Choir Director Mrs. Maggie Metzger '13, who organizes the festival every year. “We thoughtfully selected pieces that would be appropriate for middle school range and ability and spent time rehearsing as a large group and in sectionals.”
A very special thank you to our guests from Mary Seat of Wisdom, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Athanasius, and The Academy of St. Joan of Arc! Thanks also go to Mrs. Metzger and Mrs. Pan Xiao, collaborative pianist, for making this such an unforgettable day.