April 22, 2024
Prince George High School's award-winning chorus showcased its talents in one of the biggest entertainment centers in the world, earning high marks for their performances at the New York Heritage Festival during the week of April 11, 2024.
The chorus, led by director Storm Burks, participated in the festival just after students returned to school following Spring Break, traveling to New York City for the opportunity to perform at The Riverside Church, an iconic venue that has hosted the likes of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela. The Heritage Festival allows students to demonstrate their talents before a panel of acclaimed adjudicators who offer written and recorded comments to help the performers continue to grow in their music.
During the Royals' visit to the Big Apple, the chorus' Chamber Singers (SATB mixed ensemble) placed first in the Chamber Choir category, and the Treble Chorale (SSAA high-voice ensemble) placed first in the Unisex category. Additionally, both ensembles received the Adjudicators Choice Award for earning a score of 95 or higher from each of the festival's three adjudicators. Committed to inspiring a love of music in his students and school community, choral director Burks was moved by the choir's achievements at the festival and inspired by the thoughtful insights they received during the adjudication process.
"Awards and accolades are a byproduct of the hard work that we put in on the daily," PGHS Choral Director Storm Burks said. "We strive to be the best musicians and choir that we can be by placing all of our emphasis on the music and the community we create. We love when we are affirmed on our hard work and choices as an ensemble. We also love the feedback we get from world-renowned directors and musicians. Assessments are for growth, and we get better after each performance and competition."
Click HERE to view more videos of the chorus' performance at the New York Heritage Festival.
The high school's chorus travels regularly to perform at local, regional, and national events, including Florida and Walt Disney World, among countless other locations. Choral director Burks said excitement for the festival grew to a fever pitch once they saw New York City’s skyline, home to iconic venues like the Metropolitan Opera House, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and Madison Square Garden.
"The kids felt like they belonged, and many of them now have new aspirations as performers," Burks shared. "Being in the center of the art world is infectious, and all of our Prince George students caught the performing bug. While we were there, we had the opportunity to have a backstage tour of the Radio City Music Hall, we saw "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," took part in a workshop with a Broadway performer and music director, and sang in a building with some of the best acoustics in the world, The Riverside Church in Manhattan."
These latest accolades add to awards and recognitions regularly earned by the high school's chorus. Recently, in 2023, both the vocal chorus and high school band earned the Virginia Music Educators Association's (VMEA) Blue Ribbon Award, the highest award given to school music programs in Virginia.
The community is invited to experience the arts in Prince George County during upcoming events, including Prince George High School's "Beauty and the Beast" performance on May 2-4, 2024, and the spring choir concert on May 15, 2024.
The chorus roster for the Heritage Festival is listed as follows: Sarah Baiza, Adriana Bennett, Alyssa Brendel, Addysen Breslin, Bryce Butler, Jonathan Calimbas, Zoey Campbell, Sabrina Cole, Janet Colon Montalvo, Alivia Conner, Mckinsey Cox, Kayla Custis, Aljay Dixon, Jada Ernest, Abriel Fields, Lily Fischer, Janiah Foster, Mackenzie Galle, Olivia Gilbert, Janeicia Goodwyn Bey, Gabriel Graves, Kamran Hamilton, Hope Harvey, Nora Johnson, Ayion Jones, Danis Jones, Kassidy Jones, James Lewis, Emma Lockett, Matthew Marshall, Aurora Martin, Mylee Mihelich, Elaina Moser, Matthew Norris, Kaya Overton, Bianca Purdel, Isabella Rook, Malachi Ruffin, Aleigha Shinault, William Simpkins, Jalen Slaughter, Chase Sullivan, Lorelei Thomas, Olivia Thompson, Samantha Turner, Josue Velazquez Disla, and Dorothy Whitney.