The Roxbury Classic Sounds Honors has been chosen as one of only two high school choirs from the East Coast to perform at the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Division Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. Classic Sounds Honors, under the direction of RHS Director of Choral Activities, Lorraine Lynch, was chosen from many audition tapes that were submitted for consideration, including all states from Maryland north to Maine.
The 48 honors level singers in Classic Sounds will proudly present over 200 additional singers at RHS, as well as Roxbury High School and New Jersey, in their performance on February 12-14, 2004.
Mrs. Lynch states, “Being chosen for the American Choral Directors Association Convention is certainly the greatest honor that the students have earned in my 20 years in the Roxbury school district. I couldn’t be more proud of this year’s Classic Sounds members and past members of Classic Sounds whose determination, talent and drive for excellence have brought this recognition to our choral program, high school and school district.”
Roxbury Classic Sounds Honors is the premier curricular vocal ensemble at Roxbury High School. Classic Sounds Honors, with 48 members, is one four curricular choirs, in seven sections, with 260 singers, in the total vocal program at Roxbury High School.
Classic Sounds Honors meets daily for forty minutes. In addition to Roxbury’s Annual Winter, Spring, and Choir Festival Performances, Classic Sounds Honors also performs at festivals, competitions and local events throughout the year. The ensemble focuses on a cappella traditional choral repertoire including classics, madrigals, spirituals and contemporary choral works.
The invitation to perform in Boston, Massachusetts at Old South Church is not the first honor to bestowed upon Classic Sounds. In February of 2003, Classic Sounds Honors was invited to perform at the Celebration of African-American Spirituals at Penn State University. In May of 2003, the ensemble earned First Place Mixed Choir, a Superior Rating, and Best Overall Choir at Music in the Parks. In May of 2002, Classic Sounds Honors earned First Place Mixed Choir and a Superior Rating at the Boston Heritage Music Festival. In 2001, the ensemble earned First Place Mixed Choir, a Superior Rating and Best Overall Choir at Music in the Parks. The 2000 Classic Sounds Honors was awarded First Place Mixed Choir, a Superior Rating and Best Overall Choir at the Williamsburg Fiesta-val.
The Classic Sounds Honors has been featured for the past thirteen years at the Roxbury Concert, Jazz and Show Choir Invitational. The ensemble has had the privilege of working with many esteemed college professors including Cyril Stretansky of Susquehanna University, Anthony Leach of Penn State University, Michael Mendoza of the College of New Jersey, Patrick Gardner of Rutgers University, Jeanette Hile of Seton Hall University, Mark Aliapoulios of Boston University and Larry Lapin of University of Miami. The classic Sounds Honors singers have also been honored to work with many professional singers including Thomas Jones, Peter Eldridge, Suzanne Hickman, Mark Moliterno, Susan Boardman, Thomas Faracco, Darmon Meader, and Kim Nazarian.
The Classic Sounds Honors have been a featured performing ensemble at the New Jersey Music Educators Convention several times. Their members are actively involved in North Jersey Region Choir, New Jersey All-State Choir, All-Eastern Choir and New Jersey Governor’s School of the Arts.
Following the Classic Sounds performance in Boston, the choir will again be showcased at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 18, 2004. This performance, along with a performance by the Roxbury High School Wind Symphony, will be one of many seen at through Perform America at Carnegie Hall.