Last Wednesday evening was the Fairmont Entertainment Company (FEC) Winter Showcase. The showchoir did a medley from the musical, Rent, but the spotlight was on the vocal jazz ensembles, especially The Eleventh Hour which cleaned up in the state competition last month.

Please see FEC concert photos at:
href=”http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dljh_dayton/album?.dir=71f8&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos”>http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dljh_dayton/album?.dir=71f8&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Tonight was the Kettering Middle/High School choral concert. The 7th and 8th grade choirs from Ketteing Middle School and Van Buren Middle School each performed three songs, and then the high school Treble and Concert Choirs, and the Symphonic Chorale each performed their upcoming contest pieces.

Jose was slightly nervous as I tied his tie, but I kept reassuring him there was no need to be nervous. One of my students offered some encouragement. Jose was fine! He actually smiled this time and opened his mouth more. Matthew, as always, was engaging as he sang.

I am proud of both boys and their performance skills. Matthew is so natural and seemed quite experienced. Jose, once he understands how talented he is – especially with movement – will be dynamite. I have contacted Chris Ott, the superb vocal percussionist for Eleventh Hour. Chris is also a tremendous dancer and trombonist – really neat kid!

The Kettering Middle School just did not seem to have it together tonight. Vocally, they were OK, but behaviorally, especially on stage, they were embarassing. Several of the Black girls just could not care less about the concert and I wanted, so much, to drag them off stage. I would be content with just the Van Buren choirs – who are under the direction of Brody. Brody’s students behave like professionals, and it was so apparent tonight when his middle school students were on stage. Hands down – Brody’s middle school choirs have their acts together.

To see more photos of the choral concerts, please visit these two sites:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dljh_dayton/album?.dir=/da28
and
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dljh_dayton/album?.dir=71f8&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dljh_dayton/my_photos