By Zach Rosenberg
Staff Writer
Mira Costa’s Choirs held the third annual Cathedral Concert at St. Cross Episcopal Church in Hermosa Beach yesterday, featuring various classical and religious songs.
Director of Choirs Michael Hayden chose a variety of songs for choir to perform, including “O Virtus Sapientiae” by Hildegarde von Bingen, “Jachzet Gott Alle Lande” by Felix Mendelssohn, “Vere Languores” by Antonio Lotti, “Lift Thine Eyes” by Felix Mendelssohn and “Et Misericordia” by Kim Andre Arnesen. Costa’s Advanced Women’s Chorale of about 42 students, Vocal Ensemble group of about 24 students and the Kammerchor chamber choir from the University of Cologne, Germany performed.
“This chamber choir is on tour in California and we are very fortunate to have them join us in our Cathedral Concert, which this year will be at St. Cross Episcopal Church in Hermosa Beach,” Hayden said. “We moved to the church to accommodate a larger audience.”
According to Costa junior Phillip Wah, this performance is a great way to show the work the Costa choir program has put in. The group practiced every day during class for over a month and during office hours every week, practicing the songs they performed at the concert.
“This performance showcased our practice and all the songs we learned,” Wah said. “Throughout the year our group continuously grows and we begin to sing as a big cohesive unit as we all work together to sound our best.”
Video: The Mira Costa Choir programs Vocal Ensemble performed at the St. Cross Episcopal Church in Hermosa Beach. The program performed many old and classical songs pervading a great scene at the beautiful church and concert.
The concert was open to the community for $25 at the door. At the concert all the groups sang their own short programs and then at the end sang one German Renaissance selection and two American spiritual selections.
“The event brought everyone together and helped spread joy to those who want to hear us sing,” Costa junior Macallan Laver said. “It’s great to see a huge turnout at the concerts especially at this one where we can sing for families, friends and people who come for religion.”
The Choir programs held one nine hour rehearsal together in preparation for the concert on March 4 where they went through the entire concert and practiced each song multiple times. The concert was from 7 to 9 p.m. and there were over 100 attendees altogether.
“We had an outside school rehearsal this past Saturday,” Wah said. “I don’t think we will have another one, however, every second office hours we have rehearsal.”
The next departments concert will take place on April 7 to April 15 during the Choir trip to Europe. The European choir trip during spring break will perform in the Netherlands, Germany, France and along the Rhine River. According to Hayden, small concerts will also take place in the spring.
“I love this concert for its beauty and breadth of repertoire and the fact the we perform [in] this acoustic space that magnifies the voice,” Hayden said. “It is such a great experience for the audience and the singers.”
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