West, Rolland-Warner choirs are 'excellent'

On Wednesday, March 9th, the choirs at Lapeer West High School and Rolland-Warner Middle School attended the annual district choir festival.

Lapeer West took two choirs, Treble Chorus and Mixed Chorus. Both choirs from West scored "excellent" ratings allowing them to compete in the State Choir Festival on May 3-4th. This is the third straight year that Mr. Thomas Kaiser's choirs earned this honor.

Both choirs are extremely excited to be nominated and to compete in May. Last year, Lapeer West took two choirs to state festival, with one earning an excellent rating. "This year we will try and match last year's results and earn ourselves another plaque to add to the choir room wall." said Kaiser.

The Rolland-Warner choirs also attended the event and earned "excellent" ratings as well. This was the first year that the school has attended.

The choir, made up of 55 seventh and eighth graders, are headed to state festival. This year's Junior High festival will be held May 19th at Central Michigan University.

"I am happy that my choirs did so well yet again. They worked hard to earn excellent ratings, and it is just another achievement for all of my kids"

Two Lapeer West Choirs score well at State Festival at Rochester High School

Two Lapeer West High School choirs attended the State Choir Festival on Tuesday at Rochester High School with one achieving an “Excellent” rating and the other a “Good” rating.

The Mixed Chorus received a one rating or “Excellent,” which is equivalent to a “Superior” rating at Regional competitions.

Judges made many positive comments about the choir, and one offered the opinion that the West choir was “one of the top five choirs musically he heard all day.” Many high schools from around southeastern Michigan were at the event.

The second choir, the “After School Concert Choir,” which meets Tuesday and Friday after school, achieved the “Good Rating.”

“I am very proud of the choirs today,” said Mr. Thomas Kaiser, West Choir Director. “They were among the best of the State yesterday. The students continued to show why Lapeer is and has been a place where great music is being made.”

Lapeer East, Lapeer West choirs 'excellent' at District 3 Choral Festival at FIM, head to State Choral Festival

Two choirs at Lapeer West High School and the Lapeer East Concert Choir received “excellent” ratings at the District 3 Choral Festival at the Flint Institute of Music on Wednesday, March 3 and qualified to sing at the State Choral Festival.

A Lapeer West student, David Smith (photo), who sings with the Lapeer East choir, has advanced from his performance at the State Honors Choir in January to the All-State Choir and a performance at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival in May conducted by the nationally-known conductor, Craig Jessop.

“This is the second time David has been chosen for this honor,” said teacher Mrs. Cheryl Burnside, who conducts the East choirs. “Our students, both East and West, wonderfully represent Lapeer. They are not only ‘excellent’ choirs, but are also very courteous and well-mannered when they visit other schools.”

The State Choir Festival will be Tuesday, April 27, at Rochester High School.

The Lapeer West Mixed Choir and the Lapeer West Concert Choir both received the “excellent” ratings. The Lapeer West Treble Choir also performed and received a “good” rating.

“I’m proud of the students and all the work they put into the choirs,” said Lapeer West teacher Mr. Thomas Kaiser, who conducts the West choirs.

Lapeer East, Lapeer West Choir members perform at Regionals, David Smith heads to State Honors Choir

Two Lapeer East choir members and two Lapeer West choir members competed at the Regional Honors Choir Concert in Grant, Michigan last weekend. One of the students, David Smith, a Lapeer West High School senior who sings with the Lapeer East High School choir, was selected as one of four tenors to sing in the Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Bass (SATB) Choir for State Honors Choir.

The State Honors Choir will perform at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids in January. The two Lapeer West choir members who sang at the Regional competition were juniors Taylor Weir and Megan Fritz. In addition to David Smith from the Lapeer East choir, junior Haley Smith, David’s sister, also sang at the Regional event.

Videos: Lapeer West and Lapeer East Concert Choirs

Lapeer West Concert Choir - "Grease" medley



Lapeer East Concert Choir - Spring Concert

Lapeer East, Lapeer West choirs perform well at Festival

Choirs from Lapeer East and Lapeer West High Schools represented their schools and themselves in an exemplary manner at the Michigan Schools Vocal Music Association festival at the Flint Institute of Music on Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

Two choirs from each school participated in the festival and the Lapeer East Concert Choir was one of nine choirs, out of 43 participating, that was selected for further judging at the State Festival in April.

The East Concert and Treble Choirs received “Excellent” ratings. The Lapeer West Concert Choir received an “Excellent” rating and the West Treble Choir received a “Good.”

Lapeer West’s Concert Choir missed going to the State Festival by just a few points, said West Choir Director Thomas Kaiser.

“They represented themselves and our school very well through not only their performances but their behavior as well,” said East Choir Director Cheryl Burnside.