Daxxtyn Williams (Grade 11) and Lily Lavallee (Grade 12) traveled to Burlington, CT on Wednesday, March 17th to participate in the New England Music Festival, working for 3 days with the prestigious, Dr. Cory Boulton.  Dr. Boulton is Director of Choral Activities, and coordinator of Music Education at Bradley University in Illinois.

The New England Music Festival process begins for students and their teachers back in September, as they examine a list of music and make a selection that seems to fit the performing ability of the student.  Students work to prepare this selection of music, which they perform for a judge at a Solo and Ensemble Festival, which takes place in White River Junction, Vermont in December.  When completed, the students’ performance ratings are used to select the highest achievers to form a 250-voice chorus.

These gifted singers are sent six pieces of difficult chorus music and spend hours learning that music in preparation for the festival.  Each year a different community in the six New England states hosts the Festival, housing students in local homes, and providing space and an environment that is conducive to quality music making. Conductors of national and international stature are contracted to lead these students in rehearsal and in the performance.  The result is a high level of music making and a musical experience that will last a lifetime.  (www.nemfa.org)

RLRS is one of approximately 50 different schools that participate in this festival, and the only to participate from Maine.

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