PARKERSBURG - The Parkersburg High School choirs under the direction of Pamela McClain captured top honors at the National Heritage Festivals Choral Competition April 24-29 at the Pine Castle United Methodist Church in Orlando, Fla.
The Men's Ensemble, Women's Ensemble, Chamber Choir and A Cappella Choir each received a gold award for receiving scores of 93 and higher. The three judges were Josef Knott, a Kent State music professor; Gregory Ruffer, University of Southern Florida professor; and Diana Campbell, Seminole Fine Arts Academy instructor.
The Men's and Women's Ensembles received Judges' Choice trophies for most outstanding choral groups in competition.
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The full choirs from Parkersburg High School perform under Director Pam McClain at the National Heritage Festivals Choral Competition in Orlando, Fla.
All four groups received the sweepstakes trophy for receiving the highest combined scores in choral competition. The Men's Ensemble received a trophy for most outstanding individual ensemble.
Cleo Childress received a Maestro Award for her solo "Ride the Chariot" in the Women's Ensemble.
The choirs were the only groups in competition who received an invitation to perform next year at either the Heritage Festivals of Gold or in Carnegie Hall in New York City.
In Orlando, the group dined at the NASCAR Grille in Orlando's City Walk, attended the Blue Man Group show and toured EPCOT and Disney's Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios. A cookout and awards ceremony was held at the Wet 'n Wild water park.
The A Cappella Choir Spring Concert will be held 7:30 p.m. May 17 in the high school auditorium. The concert is free with donations accepted at the door.
The concert will feature the four choirs and an all-state octet, an all-state chamber ensemble, state solo and ensemble finalists and 41 senior choir members.
Students selected to the A Cappella Choir for the 2012-13 school year will join the choir singing "Home Among the Hills." A reception honoring the seniors will be held in the school cafeteria following the concert.
