Oak Forest HS Madrigals Sing at Augustana Chamber Choir Festival

The Oak Forest High School Madrigal Singers enjoy a moment of reprieve during their trip to the Augustana Chamber Choir Festival, held at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. According to Oak Forest High School Vocal Director Victor Pazik, over fifteen choirs in the region (Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois) attended this event.

OFHS Junior Kinsey Carrera said, “The Augustana trip helped our Madrigal group come together for an amazing blend and perform our songs with purpose.” During their time at Augustana, the Madrigal Singers gained an incredible educational experience. They arrived on the campus on the evening of October 8 and headed right into their clinic with Dr. Michael Zemek, Augustana Associate Professor of Music. He worked with the students on phrasing and interpretation. He was very impressed with their tone quality, blend, balance, and ensemble work and was very complimentary of the ensemble. OFHS Alumnus Amelia Sorensen (2017), who is a freshman attending Augustana and majoring in Music Education, sat in on the clinic and was also extremely impressed.

Each choir who participated in this event had the same opportunity to work with a one of two professors of music, either Dr. Jon Hurty or Dr. Michael Zemek. At the festival, the 250 student ensemble sight-read and learned two choral pieces, a Spanish piece “Ya viene la vieja” and an Italian piece “Il bianco e dolce cigno.” A great opportunity to have two masters of their craft provide their knowledge of interpretation, vocal technique, rehearsal etiquette in a professional/collegiate environment. At the end of the first day, all students were entertained by the Augustana choral program – Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Jenny Lind (all girls ensemble) and their beginning group.

The students received a plethora in information about the School of Music offered at Augustana and information about scholarships, vocal study, and other degrees offered at this institution. The students also participated in a vocal workshop with four other professors on staff, where they analyzed their knowledge of the voice and demonstrated that knowledge through performance. At the conclusion of the second day, each choir sang for the other, providing students the opportunity to hear the other ensembles and evaluate and self-evaluate their progress in relations to other ensembles. The students had an amazing experience.

OFHS Sophomore Jake Kamper said, “It was a great experience for a look into the future of music education, and the professional atmosphere of the art.”

Members of the Oak Forest High School Madrigal Singers are: Ema Kester, who plays the Queen, Jackie Griffin, who plays the King, Shaina Spinks, Kinsey Carrera, Emma Davidson, Myriam Melidona, Breanne Morrissey, Millie McMahon, Sarah Boblink, Madyson Brown, Maddie McErlean, Olivia Earll, Antwhan Rice, Griffin Boger, Kristina Bowers, Alyssa Ryan, Jeff Willeford, Bill Altier, Jeremiah Pondexter, Jared Bremer, and Jake Kamper.