Clarion University's Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and the Clarion University Music Department will host the Fifth Annual Clarion University High School Choral Festival Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Thursday, Oct. 22. The festival performances are free and open to the public.
The event is held in the main auditorium of the Marwick-Boyd Fine Arts Center and will begin each day at 9:30 a.m. with the singing of the National Anthem by the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. A total of 11 region high schools will be performing at the festival.
Schools and their directors performing on Wednesday, Oct. 21, include Brookville Area High School, Patrick Tatman; Clarion Area High School, Zachery Covington; Clarion-Limestone High School, Tina Bennett; North Clarion High School, Christina F. Cohlhepp; and Redbank Valley High School, Carrie McIntire.
Schools and their directors performing on Thursday, Oct. 22, include Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School, Kathy Larimer; East-West Forest High Schools, Brian Rosen; Franklin Area High School, Katie Grieg; Oil City High School, Steve Luxbacher; Rocky Grove High School, Jodi Hoover; and Union High School, David Gibson.
The order of each day's performers is determined literally by drawing names out of a hat. After each ensemble performs, its director draws a name to determine who will perform next. This assures that all ensembles remain for the entire festival and provide an audience for the other ensembles.
Each choral ensemble will have a 20 minutes to perform which will include an on-stage clinic by Dr. Henry A. Alviani, associate professor of music and director of choral and vocal music studies at Clarion University. Alviani created the Festival in 2005 and has served as its host and clinician since its inception. The Festival has become an annual event for many schools in the area.
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