Delmarva Christian High School students sing at Carnegie Hall
Ten Delmarva Christian High School students participated in an Association of Christian Schools International National Honors Choir Concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City April 25.
The DCHS students joined choruses from Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee and Texas in performing a program of works by Handel, Johann Michael Haydn, Craig Courtney, William Powell, Ola Gjeilo, Mark Hayes, William Monk and Carl Boberg/Stuart K. Hine and were conducted by Thomas Council and Julian Ackerley.
“They sang so beautifully,” said Linda Perry, DCHS choral instructor. “It could not have been a better performance. I truly am quite proud of our DCHS Royal Ensemble. I recall even having to gain my composure during their performance - it was absolutely beautiful!”
This performance has been a long time coming.
“I received a brochure about the ACSI National Honors Choir in January 2015,” said Perry. “I began conversation with Head of School Mike Vonhof about the opportunity, and he encouraged me to pursue the interest level and gave it his blessing. By the time the commitments had to be made in June 2015, we had seven students signed up. Then, when the fall semester began, we picked up three more students and a chaperone. Each student auditioned for me personally, but after my inquiries to him, I was personally invited to bring our ensemble by Dr. Thomas Council, director of the ACSI National Honors Choir.”
Dubbed the DCHS Royal Ensemble, the students rehearsed with Perry regularly for months in preparation for the performance. Once they arrived in New York City, the students worked with the other school choirs in rigorous three-hour rehearsals on the days leading up to the concert.
“We would meet on Thursday mornings before school to rehearse,” said Abby Johnson, a junior at DCHS. “Though I felt pretty prepared for the concert, it was definitely nerve-racking to perform at Carnegie Hall. After the performance, though, I felt exhilarated. It was really empowering.”
Committed to excellence, Delmarva Christian Schools offers non-denominational, Christ-centered educational opportunities to students from prekindergarten through eighth grade in Milton and from ninth through 12th grade in Georgetown. The mission of Delmarva Christian Schools is to proclaim the gospel by preparing students spiritually, academically, and physically to know and do God’s will in their lives. For more information, call 302-856-4040 or go to www.delmarvachristian.com.
