By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

CALERA— The choirs at Calera High School recently earned a slew of superior ratings at two choral assessments March 21. Each group sang two pieces from memory, earning the highest scoring possible for their performances.

“It was one of those things I didn’t expect it,” said choral director Alice LaGrone. “I was working really hard with them, and I expected a lot from them.”

About 74 Calera students participated in two competitions March 21. The larger of the two was the State Choral Performance Assessment where LaGrone had two choral groups performing.

An auditioned chamber choir and the concert choir, made up of three separate classes of students, each performed two memorized pieces. While each choir sang a renaissance piece in English, the chamber choir performed a second piece in Latin and the concert choir sang in Hebrew.

The groups were also scored on their ability to sight read, or singing a piece of music they had never seen before.

“I try to get to know the kinds of people that get chosen to be a judge, listen to what they have to say and try to make it better every year,” LaGrone said.

The same day, LaGrone said she had two ensemble groups perform and some soloists as well. The women and men from the chamber choir sang as separate ensemble groups, and both received superior ratings.

“I still don’t think it’s set in yet,” LaGrone said. “I’m kind of in denial because I work so much, and I worry so much. It was just nice to be reaffirmed by someone who doesn’t know what we do everyday.”

Everyone who attended the assessment had the opportunity to purchase a medal for their superior rating, and LaGrone said the achievement meant even more to the seniors who are about to graduate.

“They screamed a lot when I told them on the bus,” LaGrone said of revealing the score sheets to her students. “They were taking pictures of the judge sheets, and they were just so excited.”

The choir’s final performance will be April 26 at 6:30 p.m. in Calera High School’s auditorium.

“I’m very proud, and I’m looking forward to next year,” LaGrone said. “I hope that people will ask us to come and sing.”