In Marietta, we know the musical talent of our Tigers is superior — recall the chills of ‘Matilda’ just two weeks ago.
But now, three large groups of Tigers are heading to state competition because the judges agree.
“This is the meat of what we do,” Director of Choirs Scott Rieder shares. “This is why they have the vocal chops to perform as they do in a musical or at Music in the Park.”
Join the Marietta High School Choirs for a local showcase of their top pieces next week on March 16 at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church. Space is limited, tickets are required, but free.
The show is expected to run approximately 90 minutes and feature all of the high school choirs, plus four soloists and five ensembles who received superior ratings in mid-January.
"What's exciting here is even though we have 16 seniors graduating from the program as a whole, we have just as many juniors and sophomores and the program is building," says Rieder. "We're retaining students and continuing to grow and pull them in earlier to be mentored by model students ahead of them."
Last weekend, Rieder took 75 choral students to John Glenn High School for the Ohio Music Education Association District 9 Large Group competition.
Cantabile Choir and Bass Chorus earned the top rating of Superior, and Treble Chorus earned the rating of Excellent from the OMEA judges.
Director of Bands Korey Parlin likewise took an additional 30 Tigers in the Symphonic Band for their large group adjudicated event, earning a superior ranking as well.
“The music they perform in these settings and at our Solo and Ensemble performances is the traditional, higher level choral music than the Christmas or spring shows. It’s the most advanced music students will perform all year,” adds Rieder.
Tigers last attended the competition in person in 2019, pre-consolidation and pandemic — before adding large classes of eighth-grade students to the group.
“So what’s amazing, especially about our Bass Chorus, is that more than half are eighth graders and they performed at the high school level,” explains Rieder. “That’s a direct result of the consolidation and serves both them and the program as a whole.”
Bass Chorus earned not only top marks in prepared pieces but also received a superior rating in their sight reading last weekend.
Symphonic Band was also recognized for their skill in sight reading, with mere minutes of silent study, silent rehearsal and then one chance to perform new music for a judge—earning again a superior rating.
“I’m proud of their overall growth from last year to this year,” shares Parlin. “That same group got twos and threes last year and received the one from all three judges this year. They’re buying into what we’re trying to build and trusting me in the moment to guide them and balance the ensemble musically.”
Bass Chorus, Cantabile Choir and Symphonic Band have qualified for state competition in April.
All groupings will perform again locally at the Fine Arts Festival at Marietta High School on April 26 and at the Spring Show on May 18.