Avondale High School Choir chosen to perform at prestigious festival

The Most Outstanding Choir 2017 takes a break during rehearsal.

Avondale High School Concert Choir, under the direction of Avondale School District Vocal Music Director Kevin Cornwell, has been recognized as one of only two choirs in the State of Michigan as Most Outstanding Choirs. The distinction is made by a panel of Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA) judges performing a blind evaluation of audio submissions from schools around the State. The panel chose two choirs for the coveted recognition this year, Avondale’s Concert Choir and the Grand Rapids Christian High School Chamber Chorale. As Most Outstanding Choirs, the groups have earned the opportunity to perform at the prestigious Michigan Youth Arts Festival at Western Michigan University in May.

“To be selected to participate in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival is a great honor. Students that are selected to participate are considered to be the very best in the state,” said Cornwell, adding that the Concert Choir has had a very successful year that included receiving a perfect score in performance and sight-reading at the MSVMA District Choir Festival last month.

In addition to the Avondale Concert Choir performing at the Festival, Avondale junior Kevin Cornwell II has also earned an invitation to the Festival as part of his selection to the Michigan All-State Honors Choir. This is the second year that Kevin has been selected for the Choir which represents the top 100 student vocalists in the State.

The Michigan Youth Arts Festival is comprised of the very best and talented Michigan students in choir, band, orchestra, dance, theater, and visual arts as well as specific areas of study such as composition, piano, violin and voice. More than 250,000 students are involved in the selection process for the annual event but only about 1,000 students earn an invitation to participate in the Festival. Designed as an opportunity for students to gather, explore, celebrate and showcase their talents, the event also serves to foster a lifelong love of the arts.

Avondale Concert Choir will perform at Western Michigan University‘s Miller Auditorium Friday, May 19th at the Gala Concert which starts at 7:00 p.m. The community is welcome to attend the concert that will feature the very best in student choral, band, and orchestra.