Symphonic and Women's Choir members were fortunate to get one of the last few spots available at Reilly's Summer Seat Farm before they close on October 31st.  This has been an annual tradition for the high school choirs as their social gathering, so even though it was a Sunday night, we knew we had to do it!  Lot's of beautiful scenery and fun times together.

On Friday, October 16, 2015, North Hills High School Choir students were visited by the Westminster College Chamber Singers and their director, Dr. Samuel Barbara.  During the hour and a half session together, the WC group performed selections from their upcoming concert and students heard about the opportunities to study music at Westminster.

Afterward, the North Hills Women's Choir took the stage and performed 2 selections that they will share at the upcoming Women's Choral Festival in a few weeks.  Dr. Barbara then spent about 15 minutes rehearsing with the women, giving them constructive suggestions to improve their singing techniques.

The Symphonic Choir then switched places and performed the "Libera Me" movement from Faure's Requiem that was recently performed at their fall concert this past Tuesday.  Since Westminster also performed the Requiem at their spring concert last semester, they joined the Symphonic Choir on stage and after a short rehearsal the combined group sang together.

Concluding the afternoon, the North Hills Singers and Westminster Chamber Singers performed a selection that both groups had prepared (with no rehearsal), Maurice Durufle's "Ubi Caritas."

Unfortunately, we ran out of time for the question and answer session and discussion with the Westminster singers, but the day was beneficial for all and we're thankful for the chance to collaborate musically!

On Friday, October 16, 2015 periods 7-9 we will host the Westminster College Chamber Singers in our auditorium for choir students.  Their director, Dr. Samuel Barbara, will spend some time workshopping with our North Hills Singers, Women’s and Symphonic Choir members and the WC Chamber Singers will perform for us as well. 
 
The Westminster College Chamber Singers is an elite mixed vocal ensemble comprised of the college’s most talented and experienced vocalists and is open to all students by audition. Members of this select ensemble are highly motivated and committed to achieving a professional caliber of choral performance. The Chamber Singers are routinely featured on and off campus at smaller private events and proudly represent the college on the regional, national and international stages. As a demonstration of their added commitment to the choral art, members of the Chamber Singers are expected to concurrently enroll in the Concert Choir, serving as the core of the touring ensemble. The Chamber Singers perform a wide array of challenging vocal repertoire suitable for small ensemble spanning the Renaissance to the 21st Century.

Dr. Samuel Barbara is Director of Choral Activities and assistant professor of music at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, where he conducts the Chamber, Concert and Men’s Choirs, and teaches choral methods, literature and conducting. He completed his doctorate in choral music at the University of Southern California, where he was senior teaching assistant in the Department of Choral and Sacred Music and assistant conductor of the renowned USC Thornton Chamber Singers. Before arriving in Southern California, Dr. Barbara served as Director of Choirs at Cleveland High School in Portland, Oregon where he was awarded the “Golden C” for excellence in teaching. Under his direction, the Cleveland “A” Choir won the 5A Oregon State Choir Championships three times. Samuel earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees from the University of Portland. After completing his undergraduate work, Samuel was awarded a Fulbright Grant to teach English and study music in Weimar, Germany.