On January 28 – 29, 2011, six Donoho Choir students participated in the University of Alabama’s twenty-third annual Honor Choir. Donoho students selected for and participating in the Honor Choir were Cowan Angell, Alli Brascho, Willy Coker, Nisha Kashyap, Zach St. Clair, and Katherine Westbrook.
The selected Honor Choir met and began rehearsing on Friday morning, continued rehearsals throughout the day on Friday and again on Saturday, and ended the conference with an impressive concert on Saturday evening. Unlike most “Honor Choir” experiences, these students received the concert repertoire for the first time on Friday morning. Dr. John Ratledge, Director of Choral Activities at The University of Alabama led highly effective and positive rehearsals. He designated three or four hours of rehearsal time for sectional rehearsals led by graduate assistants. The students were amazed at their own progress and what they were able to accomplish in such a short period of time.
Dr. Ratledge repeatedly described this grouping as truly unique and above the norm in their ability to follow his lead and produce a high quality performance with so little time to prepare.
Concert repertoire included: O Praise the Lord With One Consent by Handel, Gloria by Dvorak, Hodie Christus natus est by Willan, Ubi caritas by Gjeillo, Homeland by Holst/stroope, Give Me That Old Time Religion by Hogan.
Interested students from across Alabama and even other states were allowed to submit an online application and resume of their choral experiences and honors as well as rankings and honors in academic and other areas. The students’ high school choral directors were involved in the process by being required to evaluate and rate each student in comparison to all choral students taught throughout their teaching careers.
