San Marcos Vocal Department Gets Rave Reviews from Spring Performances
The San Marcos High School Madrigals received the highest score for any group at the National Invitational Choral Festival of Gold held at the Sergerstom Hall at the Orange County Center for the Performing Arts this past April 2.
The group outperformed all men’s, women’s, combined, large and small choir groups, and even outperformed all orchestras and bands at the adjoining the National Invitational Band and Orchestra Festival of Gold. According to director Carolyn Teraoka-Brady, one of the judges gave the Madrigals a standing ovation. The group was also selected to sing the final concert of the evening.
While at the Festival of Gold, the San Marcos Madrigals Singers participated in an Honor Choir performance of John Rutter’s “Gloria” with brass, percussion ensemble, organ, massed choir performance, and a one hour rigorous clinic with Dr. Don Brinegar of USC.
The previous week, 5 members of the San Marcos Madrigals were selected to sing in the California All-State Choir concert held in Pasadena on March 25th. Megan Zink, David Childs, Hannah Turk, Jessica Kozachuk and Christian Hirsch were part of the 300 member group who were chosen during an audition period this past October. Also that same weekend, the Madrigals were honored to be mentored by Dr. Anton Armstrong, the director of St. Olaf Choir in Minnesota and one of the country’s leading choral directors.
The Madrigals were not the only group to receive recognition over Spring Break. The Royal Knights, San Marcos’ male vocal group performed at the Central Coast Choral Festival held at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on March 23rd. The Royal Knights, an ensemble of 45 men, received ‘A’ scores from all the judges, including renowned director Dr. Robert Istaad, the department chair of Choral Studies at CS Fullerton. The Royal Knights were one of only 16 groups out of 65 to receive Recognition of Excellence status from the festival.
Next up for the San Marcos High School Vocal Department, the Madrigal singers will compete in their competitive festival to date, the Golden State Choral Festival on Tues. April 24 at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. San Marcos will be one of the 12 top Southern California choirs to perform the same piece and one song of their own selection. The First Congregational Church of Los Angeles is home to one the largest organs in the world.
The San Marcos Performing Arts Department, which includes the Vocal Department, will also be staging and performing the Cole Porter musical “Kiss Me Kate” on May 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12th beginning at 7pm. The Vocal Dept. will have their year end concert on May 30th at San Roque Church.
