SpicyTricks

The Orange High Choral Department performed their first concert of the year October 9, showcasing the three chorus classes in the fall semester. The performance, which took place in the OHS auditorium, was seen by many as most of the seats were filled with expectant parents, fellow students, and teachers.

The show started promptly at 7 pm when Choral Director Jane Williams started the show, welcoming the audience and gesturing for the first group of students to take the stage.

The Beginning Choir started the concert with a bang with the spiritual song Ezekial Saw The Wheel. Songs sung in Latin was a trend this year as the Beginning Choir sang three songs in the language, Kyrie, Adoramus Te, and Gloria In Excelsis. They ended their group set with a high energy Swahili song Tuimbe which featured lots of movement from the choir. The men then left and the women of the Beginning Choir sang their version of "The Path to the Moon."

The Choir Concert followed the Beginning Choir, singing "Gloria Deo!" to get the audience entranced in their vocal stylings. "For the Beauty of the Earth" was performed next, but the real treat was the upbeat West African Playground Song Sansa Kroma led by Jalesa Parker, Jessica Lewis, Angalisa Cates, and Carson Regan. The song was very energetic and featured a call and response section that made the audience want to dance, so much so that some members of the audience proceeded to do so. The women of the Concert Choir, like the women of the Beginning Choir, ended their set by singing the Scottish Lullabye "Wee Croodin’ Doo."

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/51258802[/vimeo] 

The Madrigal Women performed next, transitioning to the Madrigal performances, as they sung the brief but hauntingly beautiful Latin song In Monte Oliveti. The Madrigal group then sang four songs: "Zion’s Walls", "Soon Ah Will Be Done", another Latin song Insanae et Vanae Curae, and the upbeat, soulful rendition of "Standing in the Need of Prayer." Senior Grace Huskins was the featured voice for these songs as she took the spot of first soprano, meaning that she contrasted the voice of the choir with her high range singing.

The Madrigal women thus proceeded to sing the 2 and a Half Men theme song "Man, Man, Man", a rendition that was delightfully harmonic and pleasing to the ears. Four Madrigal men took the stage directly afterwards, dressed in classic wacky ‘70s attire, and performed "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." The dances and the sheer absurd aspect of the performance made it very entertaining.

A large group of Beginning Choir men performed "My Girl", featuring solos by Aiden Farrel and Davis Scott, much to the delight of the crowd, who went crazy with excitement upon hearing the opening chords of the song. The choreographed group dance was adorable and perhaps one of the most entertaining performances.

A quartet performed next, singing the Chris Brown song "All Back." The group featured Antreona Bradsher, Deia Green, Marquiese Morrow, and Terrance Morrow, who sung the song a capella. Their rendition was classically soulful and very well done. It was one of the best performances of the night.

The Madrigal Men retook the stage as they performed their last piece, "In The Still of The Night", made popular by the boy band Boys II Men. Terrance Morrow also had a solo in this song as well, providing accents of flair with his high ranging voice.

The show wrapped up with all of the choral groups performing one last song: "We’re the Choir", appropriately. The exuberant, high energy finale got the attention of the crowd as they cheered along with the choir.

“I thought it was fabulous,” said audience member Tami Frenduto. “My favorite [song] was 'Standing in the Need of Prayer', but they all did great.”

With such a great start to the 2012-2013 school year, audiences are sure to be excited for the annual Winter Concert, which will be held in December.