The Benton Community vocal music department has had a busy year and 2022 looks like it won’t be slowing down anytime soon!
We are enjoying being back in the classroom and singing together again. The pandemic has had a major impact on music classes. Last year we spent much of the year singing only in small group settings at the beginning of the year, singing with masks, spreading into different areas of the building, and not able to enjoy the intrinsic benefits of being a community of singers.
This year has been a refreshing change as we sing together again in larger ensembles. Our department was involved in the production of our fall musical “Cinderella”, participated in the Veteran’s Day program at Benton Community, as well as the WAMAC Vocal Festival in Williamsburg. Benton Community had 3 students selected to the Iowa All State Choir in November. Ella Hayden, Caiden Becker, and Easton Patterson represented our school in Ames at the 3 day festival.
In December our chamber choir presented their annual Madrigal Dinner, we presented our holiday concert at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, our show choirs had their first performances, and our middle school students shared holiday music in Vinton and in Coralville.
The second weekend in January our varsity show choir, Celebration Co., traveled to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and finished 5th overall while competing against large 4A schools from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. At that same competition, there was a separate solo competition that was won by our own Ella Hayden. Caleb Rivera placed 3rd in that same competition.
We are looking forward to the winter and spring activities including show choir competitions, hosting “Touch of Class”, state solo and ensemble contest, large group competition for the choirs, and a trip to Washington DC and New York City in early June. We certainly appreciate the support of the community as they attend the vocal music events and help with sponsorships for Touch of Class. The students in our choirs are very busy and are involved in a variety of
school activities, and we are always striving to instill a love of music that will last them a lifetime!
Celebration Co. 2022
Celebration Co. rocks the house in La Crosse, Wisconsin on Saturday, January 8, 2022.