Schools
Berkley Says Willkommen to These Whiz Kids
German choir takes stage at Anderson Middle School and Berkley High School during recent visit.
Jugendchor des Musikgymnasiums Schwerin
Ages: 15-18
Hometown: Schwerin, Germany
Accomplishments: The German choir group Jugendchor des Musikgymnasiums Schwerin was invited from Shwerin, Germany, to perform during a two-week tour of Michigan schools. First performing in Wyandotte, then Kalamazoo, the group joined with host families in Berkley on Sunday and performed at on Monday and on Tuesday.
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Hitting a high note
The choir arrived from Kalamazoo on Sunday, all smiles and ready for Berkley. Students from Jugendchor des Musikgymnasiums in Schwerin, Germany, piled out of a large bus at noon and lined up their suitcases, ready to meet their host families.
Anderson Middle School and Berkley High School Choral Director Kevin Savel arranged the visit, which included a barbecue to welcome the visitors at Hurley Field on Sunday. Savel could not be reached for comment.
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Music written by Johannes Brahms (1899-1974) kicked off the concert Tuesday, and was delivered by a choral outpouring from the students that would make the von Trapps proud. Berkley band, orchestra and choir students joined the morning assembly, listening intently to the emotionally-charged pieces.
Director Bernd Spitzbarth introduced himself before the award-winning group's rendition of Mylla's Mido Kaloya, explaining "I don't think you've heard such music, but it's language you can translate."
The piece was written in a language is lost nearly 1,000 years ago that cannot be formally translated, but Spitzbarth was right. The emotion of the piece transcended language.
Another piece, Brahms' O schone Nacht (O lovely night), was translated in the program and performed as part of a four-piece segment.
Spitzbarth explained that these pieces were meant for four soloists, "but since we are a bigger choir, we can do it even better."
The students who attended the assembly were gracious and transfixed. Careful not to applaud until the director's arms lowered, they got a dose of German culture to take home.
Would you like to nominate a Whiz Kid? E-mail Berkley Patch editor Leslie Ellis at Leslie.Ellis@patch.com.
