Vocal performers emphasize the need for fine arts at high school concert

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City High School Music Department teamed-up with the Charles City Singers for the High School Choral Concert at the Comet Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Directed by new Vocal Director AJ Weber, with accompaniment by Melanie Johanningmeier, the Comet Choir opened up the concert with “David Lamentation,” “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel,” and “Bonse Aba,” which included solos from Jacob Jones and Jay’niah Flowers-Caldewell and percussion accompaniment from Andrew White and Blake Dean.

The Charles City Singers took the bleachers next, directed by Tim Mitchell with accompaniment by Chris Burns. The singers performed a “Prayer of the Children,” a song originally composed in the wake of the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s and since re-dedicated to the victims of the Ukraine invasion.

Select choir members of the small group Rhymes with Orange came together for a rendition of “Here’s that Rainy Day,” followed by the full concert choir singing “I Am Not Yours,” “Miniyama Nayo,” and “Danny Boy.”

Shortly after 8 p.m., when the polls closed on a ballot measure that would determine whether or not the school district would be able to move forward with the construction of a dedicated auditorium, the high school students and singers came together to perform “The Awakening,” a song written to emphasize the importance of the fine arts in education.