Seeley-Swan High School students chosen for UM All-Star Honor Choir

SEELEY LAKE – For the second year in a row, three Seeley-Swan High School choir students were chosen for the University of Montana All-Star Honor Choir. Seniors Lane Mackie-Wendel and Olivia Reinitz along with junior Jordan Johnson agreed that they learned a lot, had a lot of fun and the experience helped them grow musically.

SSHS Choir Director Shauna Anders said she nominated the three students because "they sing so well and they are pretty much leaders in the choir." They were chosen to participate in the All-Star Mixed Choir Jan. 18-20 under the direction of Dr. Matthew Ferrell from St. Cloud State University.

Rehearsal started Friday, Jan. 18 at 12 p.m. They rehearsed all day Saturday and Sunday morning for the Sunday afternoon performance.

Mackie-Wendel was in the mixed choir last year as a tenor. He was really excited to return this year as a bass and meet new people.

"It was so much fun. It was really nice to be around people that understood what they were doing and shared that same love of music," said Mackie-Wendel.

Even though Reinitz has been singing for a long time, this is her first year in the SSHS Choir. She was excited to have the opportunity to participate in the All-Star choir as a soprano.

"It was great getting to see a bunch of other people who knew what they were doing and had great voices. The directors had such passion for it, it was so awesome to watch and learn under them," said Reinitz. "It was long days but so much fun. Everyone wanted to sing and they worked hard at it."

Johnson was apprehensive about the experience. She learned about her selection just a week before the event and only had time to run through her alto parts once ahead of time.

"I thought we were going to work into it slowly, you know learn the parts first and then sing it....oh no," said Johnson and she smiled. "They started singing it. I did not know what I was doing. But it was nice being around other people that did."

The Mixed Choir performed five songs. Anders said the music level was very challenging.

Reinitz said mastering the South African dance that they had to do while singing one of the songs was a great accomplishment.

Mackie-Wendel loved the opportunity to sing two selections with the UM Chamber Choir: "Ride On, King Jesus" and "To the Peak of the Mountain." "To the Peak of the Mountain" was commissioned from Katerina Gimon and premiered at the concert. The students enjoyed the opportunity to work directly with the composer and help create the vision she saw for the piece.

They all agreed "In Remembrance" was their favorite song from the concert.

Singing in a choir of around 100 was a big change for the students coming from a choir of nine. Not only were there bass, tenor, alto and sopranos, they were two parts per section.

Reinitz said, "You definitely had to be in tune with the people in your part if you wanted to get it right."

Mackie-Wendel added it was easier for him to sing out in the large group because when he tries to do that with the SSHS Choir, he overpowers the other bass and sticks out.

All the students were impressed with the caliber of their peers and the new things they learned including new warmups and how to breathe correctly.

"It's nice to bring that experience back to a small school," said Johnson. "Without a music teacher who is specifically trained for that, it is hard to have everyone on the same page."

"It was a chance to test our musical abilities," said Reinitz. "There was stuff I had no idea what they were talking about, but I learned it by the end. It was a great opportunity."