Group surprised with selection as Governor’s Chorus

Participating in choir teaches more than singing on key, educators said; it teaches discipline, dedication and teamwork.

Students learn about scales, song selection and stage-presence as well as confidence and motivation, said Cheryl McIntyre, vocal director. Instruction within the music program begins before high school, she said, sometimes as early as elementary school.

“I think we have good support from the community and the parents and that’s important,” she said.

And because of the lessons students have learned, McIntyre secretly recorded a choir rehearsal and sent it to the governor as an audition tape. The audition tape was a secret, McIntyre said, because students would be in their relaxed and normal state, so they would sing without tension. Singing while stressed doesn’t produce as good of a sound as singing while relaxed, McIntyre said.

In December, Gov. John Hoeven and first lady Mikey Hoeven selected the 110-member Jamestown High School Choir as the 2008-2009 Governor’s Chorus. The choir performed the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Song of the Unsung Hero” at the Joint Session of the 61st North Dakota Legislative Assembly on Jan. 6. The group is also on call to perform for various state functions, said Jody Link, spokeswomman for the governor.

Groups are selected based on musical talent, musical achievement and community involvement, Link said. For Jamestown, the group’s talent stood out, she said.

“We got a lot of great applications and they (the Jamestown High School Choir) really rose to the top,” she said.

The selection is an honor, said Bill Nold, Jamestown High School principal.

“I just think it’s reflective of the quality of the program,” he said.

For students, the selection was a surprise, especially since they didn’t know they’d auditioned and many didn’t know the Governor’s Chorus existed, said Michaela Willer, senior.

“We had no idea that we’d even been entered into it,” said Megan Kapp, freshman.

For Willer and Kapp, choir is fun because they like to sing and they like to work with their friends.

“It’s a really fun class and I enjoy music,” Willer said.

Kapp agreed.

“Music — it’s more like a release. It helps you relax,” she said.

State functions like the Legislative Assembly aren’t the only performances set for the choir.

The group performs its Pops Concert at James-town High School March 2. A taco feed fundraiser is that same evening.

Sun reporter Katie Ryan can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by e-mail at kryan@jamestownsun.com

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