Voices mimicking birdcalls ring out as Paly Concert Choir members rehearse “Pamagun,” a fast-paced, modern piece from the Philippines to be performed at this spring’s choral concert, "One World: A Celebration of World Music."
Seniors will sing a last note of farewell at Monday’s concert, which showcases an eclectic mix of global music sung in various languages this Monday, May 22 at 7 p.m. in the Haymarket Theater.
“This concert is really about the whole choir and what we’ve accomplished over the year,” said Choir President senior Mary Hewlett, a member of Concert Choir, Madrigals and the extra-curricular quartet, The Heartbeats.
In addition to performances by Spectrum Singers, Madrigals and beginning and concert choirs, Choir Director Michael Najar will announce awards and approximately $2,500 in scholarships for some of the graduating seniors. A festive reception following the event will celebrate the completion of the new choral room in Paly’s 100 building.
“This new room has acoustic paneling and makes a world of a difference to sing in,” Hewlett said.
“One World” will feature songs of all time periods spanning the globe from Japan to France, some of which the choir has been rehearsing since the beginning of the school year.
“Pamagun,” one of the most challenging Concert Choir pieces, according to both Najar and Hewlett, has grown on students since they first began rehearsing it at the start of the year.
“Now the words are finally coming out, we’re getting the patterns and notes, and it’s starting to sound really cool,” Hewlett said.
In addition to “Pamagun,” Concert Choir, recently awarded a “Unanimous Superior” rating at the California Music Education Association competition at Hayward State, will perform “Requiem for a Bull” in Portuguese, in honor of the choir’s upcoming tour to Brazil this summer.
“I hope that we have as much energy as we did on Sunday [at the CMEA competition],” said senior Elissa Chandler, a Spectrum and Concert Choir member.
Najar hopes that choir members will share this feeling of excitement with other Paly students, especially after having heard a performance by GRAMMY® Award-winning, San Francisco-based vocal ensemble, Chanticleer, earlier this May at Paly.
“I’m hoping after a lot of students saw Chanticleer, they’ll get excited about choral music,” Najar said.
Two members from Chanticleer’s all male, twelve-member ensemble will return to Paly on Monday to help coach choir students for the evening’s concert.
“They are great examples of musicians,” Hewlett said. “I think Paly is really lucky to have those connections.”
To further encourage student attendance, Najar decided to host this year’s spring concert at Paly, despite the Haymarket Theater’s poor acoustics.
Describing the challenge of selecting a performance venue, Najar said, “It’s always a fight for my soul… [Whether to] sing very well or hopefully sing for students.”
Monday’s concert will feature a variety of music, from the traditional genre of classical to the more modern of gospel. One modern Mexican piece, for example, that Spectrum Singers will perform, includes the slapping of thighs, clapping of hands and snapping of fingers, while singing a difficult meter in Spanish, according to Najar.
The spring concert is “the culmination of our year,” Najar said. “I’m very proud of us.”
“It’s sort of a climax of all of our work,” said senior Sarah Nitzan, a Concert choir, Madrigals, and Heartbeats member. “It’s exciting how we have changed throughout the year and how our sound has changed.”
Nitzan notes how the women have rounded out their tones since the beginning of the school year as well. Through the choir’s improved ability to listen to one another, Nitzan hopes that a better unification of sound will be produced at Monday’s concert.
“You really have to rely on everyone around you to learn their part,” Nitzan said. “It’s really a team experience.”
Despite the challenges of blending as a group, especially with fast lyrics in another language, singing also has an individual aspect.
“When you’re singing, it’s a unique type of performance, because your voice is really personal,” Nitzan said.
“We have a lot of really cool music,” Nitzan said. “For me, especially because I’m a senior, it’s the last official Paly concert to perform in. Everyone is really excited, because it’s their last chance.”
Describing the process choir faces each year when their seniors graduate, Hewlett said, “The seniors left last year and we have spent all year recuperating from that, but by the spring concert we’ve gotten into a groove. I think the spring concert is our best concert.”
“You sort of regenerate,” Nitzan said.
Though Hewlett and Nitzan predict the spring concert to be a strong debut of the choir’s talents, they also recognize the sad tone the concert will have, with seniors heading off next year in all different directions.
“I think it’s going to be very emotional,” Nitzan said.
Hewlett agreed, “For me, it’s my last concert, so it’s going to be bitter-sweet.”
“A concert can either be technically very good, with every note in the right place, or one from the heart,” Nitzan said. “I think we’ll definitely have the feeling there.”
Admission for adults is $5. Students and staff admission is free.