AHS to Host EBC Honors Choir

Alliance High School will once again host the EBC Honors Choir on Thursday, Nov. 15. This year, the choir will consist of 120 students from five of the schools in the EBC.

Alliance will be hosting students from Marlington, Minerva, Canton South and Carrollton. All of the districts in the EBC were invited to take part in the Honors Choir, however, some of them chose not to take part.

The choir began approximately 30 years ago as a way to bring the districts together. The schools were always competing for athletics and academics, but the choir offered a way for the students to come together in a noncompetitive atmosphere.

Each school brings 20 of their top singers to participate in the all-day event. The students work together with a guest director, eat dinner together and even work together in small groups.

“I am proud for the opportunity to host the event,” said Carrie Chunat, AHS Choir Director. “I think it helps our students as musicians to learn from others- from directors other than me and from different students. It also helps them as leaders to take pride in our facility and school.”

Each year, a guest director is chosen to direct the students. Daniel Singer holds the honor this year.

Singer is the director for the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus and the assistant director for choruses of the Cleveland Orchestra. He started with the Cleveland Orchestra in 2012. He has worked as a guest conductor and clinician for a number of choirs and ensembles including the Choral Arts Cleveland and the Suburban Symphony of Cleveland.

Singer holds a bachelor of music degree from Northwestern University and a masters of music degree in choral conducting for Michigan State University.

The concert consists of each school performing one song individually followed by five songs, chosen by Singer, as a group. The schools have the opportunity to prepare the songs beforehand, however, the students will not have a chance to sing all together until the day of the concert when they meet with Singer.

“I think it’s interesting to see how each school has their own individual flare, but still come together,” Chunat said. “It’s alway really moving to hear that many voices come together.”

The students will prepare for the concert during the day. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. Tickets are $5 per person at the door.