Five Purdy students perform in inaugural Elementary All State Honor Choir
Purdy participants in the choir are pictured from left to right: Cyris Williams, Chloe Prock, Andelynn Vineyard, Valentina Salas and Emily Maddocks.
February 19, 2020
Five Purdy Elementary vocalists represented Purdy Schools in the newly formed Elementary All-State Honor Choir at Lake of the Ozarks on January 22. Purdy was one of only three schools to bring five or more vocalists to the event. After a full day of rehearsals, fourth graders Chloe Prock and Valentina Salas and fifth graders Cyris Williams, Andelynn Vineyard and Emily Maddocks lent their talents to the 170-voice choir that performed under the direction of conductor Joshua Pedde.
Pedde is the artistic director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, one of the largest and most respected programs of its kind in the world. The inaugural Missouri All-State Children’s Choir performed six pieces, including Shenandoah, I Hear America Singing, Goin’ to Boston and Benedictus and Hosanna.
The five Purdy vocalists perform regularly in Purdy Elementary’s audition choir, “Eagle Echoes,” under the direction of Purdy Elementary music teacher Christina Harmon, who noted of the experience, "Taking these students to All-State Elementary Children's Choir was one of the highlights of my life, thus far. Not only were these students well-behaved, but the sound they created as a group was stunning. There were several moments that I just wanted to cry out of pure joy for these young musicians. It is not every day you get to perform with the other top singers at your age level in the state. This will be an experience I know I will love to think back upon, and I believe it will be one for them too."
Five Purdy Elementary vocalists represented Purdy Schools in the newly formed Elementary All-State Honor Choir at Lake of the Ozarks on January 22. Purdy was one of only three schools to bring five or more vocalists to the event. After a full day of rehearsals, fourth graders Chloe Prock and Valentina Salas and fifth graders Cyris Williams, Andelynn Vineyard and Emily Maddocks lent their talents to the 170-voice choir that performed under the direction of conductor Joshua Pedde.
Pedde is the artistic director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, one of the largest and most respected programs of its kind in the world. The inaugural Missouri All-State Children’s Choir performed six pieces, including Shenandoah, I Hear America Singing, Goin’ to Boston and Benedictus and Hosanna.
The five Purdy vocalists perform regularly in Purdy Elementary’s audition choir, “Eagle Echoes,” under the direction of Purdy Elementary music teacher Christina Harmon, who noted of the experience, "Taking these students to All-State Elementary Children's Choir was one of the highlights of my life, thus far. Not only were these students well-behaved, but the sound they created as a group was stunning. There were several moments that I just wanted to cry out of pure joy for these young musicians. It is not every day you get to perform with the other top singers at your age level in the state. This will be an experience I know I will love to think back upon, and I believe it will be one for them too."