Utica Communiy Schools Honors Choir makes beautiful music and history

The UCS Honors Choir made beautiful music and history - all on the same night.

The 85-member student choir performed the world premiere of one of their teacher’s new song - “This Child” - at its annual concert December 4.

Music teacher Dana C. R. Gress wrote the new composition for the upper elementary choir students based on the poem “Sitting By Your Self,” by David Gerardino.

“I wrote it specifically for them - I wrote it for their voices,” Gress said prior to the song. In addition to being a UCS music teacher, Gress is also a published composer.

“We are fortunate to have not only a wonderful teacher, but also an accomplished composer on our team,” said Susan Rosso, co-Chair, K-12 of the Performing Arts Department.

Members of the UCS Honors Choir are recommended by their music teachers. Members have to audition in front of UCS music teachers before they are selected for the group.

Their theme for this year is “Music is Natural” and students will be performing music about nature and seasons, as well as music from Disney’s “Frozen.”

The UCS Honors Choir is directed by Jessica Nichol, Susan Rosso and Gress.

Also performing this year was a student choir from Utica High School and Eppler and Heritage Junior High schools, under the direction of Albert Hodge.