BA Music Department Takes Home Six Trophies
The weekend of April 12 to April 15 proved to be quite a busy one for the Bacon Academy Music Department. Students from the Bacon Academy Concert Band, Women’s Choir, and Chamber Choir headed down to Washington D.C. Thursday morning in order to spend the next few days visiting the area, playing music, and enjoying actual spring weather. With buses filled with luggage, instruments, stellar chaperones--thanks, Ms. Hogan and Ms. Rusconi--and joyful students, the spirit of The Academy never seemed to falter throughout the trip.
The day was Friday, April 13; time was 10:30AM; the location was the Northern Virginia Community College Alexandria Campus; the occasion, you may ask? To watch the Bacon Academy Chamber Choir perform three pieces in the Festivals of Music Competition for a variety of highly esteemed judges, which was followed by a personal clinic in which they learned ways to improve their singing ability as a group. This was then proceeded by the Bacon Academy Women’s Choir, who received a similar clinic mostly focusing on dynamic contrast. Shortly after this we had a break for lunch, and then it was back to the auditorium to listen to the Bacon Academy Concert Band, who received advice dealing with blend and balance. We hadn’t heard any of the other groups perform, so none of us were the wiser regarding our potential placement within the competition.
The next morning we went to the Newseum right next to the National Mall for the awards ceremony. Tensions were high and anxiety was setting in, yet our fearless leaders, Mr. Kessler and Mrs. Cheney, held their heads up high with hope and promise. The ceremony would consist of announcing the first and second place groups of various categories along with best overall performance, distinguished soloists, and the Esprit Decorum award for sportsmanship. We awaited to hear of our fate, and we certainly were not disappointed.
First, the Concert Band ranked first place in the concert band category with an “excellent” ranking. Next, the Bacon Academy Chamber Choir ranked first in the chamber choir category with a “superior” ranking. Finally, the Bacon Academy Women’s Choir ranked first in the women’s choir category with an “excellent” ranking. But alas, this was not all for the trophies we’d be taking home to Colchester. It was announced that the Bacon Academy Chamber Choir won for Best Overall Choral Performance, and BA sophomore Morgan Merchant was awarded as the honorary vocal soloist from the competition. And just when we thought we were done, we ended up winning the esteemed Esprit Decorum Award as well. With six trophies in our arms and hearts filled with pride, we headed to the National Mall to enjoy a weekend filled with laughter, memories, and walking--lots of walking. Overall, it was a memorable vacation that proved the immense talent hidden within the music hallway of Bacon Academy due to the graciousness, dedication, and support from Mr. Kessler and Mrs. Cheney.
Photo Credit: Mr. Kessler
