FEATURE: All City Choir Inspires With Song
Combined honor choirs from Lawrence Public Schools high schools and middle schools perform in annual All City Choir event
On Feb. 7, 2023, Free State High School’s Chamber Choir and Lawrence High School Concert Choir sang at the annual All-City Choir Concert. Students from both high schools and middle schools put months of dedication into the concert. Among the songs they learned and performed, Alleluia by Jake Runestad was an audience favorite.
February 18, 2023
After hours of rehearsals, the combined choirs from Lawrence Public high schools and middle schools took the stage in the annual All City Choir event at the Lied Center on Feb. 7.
The show consisted of the high school honors choirs performing “Alleluia”, “Hands are Knockin’”, “There is No Rose” and “Lamentations of Jeremiah”, with conductors Dwayne Dunn, Olivia Henning, Joshua East and Angela Loganbill.
All City Choir was successful for the Free State choir. The benefits of hard work and collaboration were reflected in the students’ performances.
“It was probably the best that we’ve done some of the songs and it was for a much larger audience than we usually perform,” Landholm said.
Free State choir director East said the event served as a great opportunity for students. The students got the chance to work with the directors from other schools. According to East, students have prepared for the show by diligently practicing in class.
“We put in a lot of work preparing these pieces so we’re properly prepared for it,” junior choir member Becca Craft said.
Additionally, the Free State Choir was able to support the other choirs. According to Craft, the Free State choir has attended all the performances of their fellow choirs as well as holding workdays between schools in order to prepare each other.
“Working with Lawrence High School [LHS] there’s a lot of really talented people,” Landholm said. “Working with them was a really positive experience for both schools.”
Not only was this a beneficial experience for choir members, the show gave audience members a chance to experience the talent of the choirs. A majority of the seats in the hall were filled. Many guests participated in the sea shanties sung by the middle school choir. Attendee Ebi Hegeman described the performance as captivating.
“The performance was beautiful,” Hegeman said. “I loved hearing the pieces put on by developing passionate voices.”
The All City Choir show brought community members together to celebrate the talent of local youth. People from across Lawrence came to watch the students sing. Landholm said it gave their family a choir performance to look forward to.
“It shows unity in our district and also showcases the talents of all the students that we have in our district,” East said.
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