Bel Canto competed in the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA) Choir Competition at the Bonita Center for the Arts on March 12, 2024. Showcasing their vocal talents with songs like Five Hebrew Love Songs by Eric Whitacre, the choir demonstrated its musical artistry and vocal skill, earning a Superior rating (the highest rating!) for their performance. Performing alongside other choral groups from the region, they aimed to leave a lasting impression on the adjudicators and the audience, successfully achieving high rankings.
Bel Canto opened their set with Herbstlied Op. 63 No. 4 by Felix Mendelssohn, a German piece that captured a bittersweet passage of time, reflected on the fleeting nature of seasons, joy, and love, and highlighted an enduring longing that persisted despite inevitable change. Although they performed this in the fall, the choir significantly improved in their technique and emotional expression, with the sopranos and altos sounding well-blended and harmonized; this captured the essence of the poem’s themes of fleeting beauty. The balance between the sections allowed for a rich, full sound that resonated with both warmth and longing. “I’m glad we brought this song back from the fall,” Junior Jadie Joseph said. “This song was just too good to not bring it back.” Bel Canto painted a vivid musical portrait of the changing seasons, setting a reflective and expressive tone for the rest of their performance.
For their second piece, Bel Canto performed Five Hebrew Love Songs by Eric Whitacre, a captivating Hebrew musical score that blended vocal harmonies with delicate, loving text. They performed the first three movements: Temuna, Kala Kalla, and Larov. This challenging piece featured gentle rhythms and lyrical beauty, requiring the choir to convey deep emotion through dynamics and expressive phrasing. “We worked really hard on this piece,” Senior Isabella Nazaryan said. “We all took lots of time, both in class and on our own, to learn the harmonies, pitches, and rhythms super carefully; in the end, everyone in Bel Canto was able to bring everything together for a solid and beautiful performance.” Their hard work paid off at the festival, where their seamless blend and expressive delivery earned them a high score for their technical growth and emotional depth.
To finish off their set, they performed I Celebrate Life by Amy Gordon, a powerful, uplifting poem-turned-song. The text called for a celebration of love and light, inspiring the choir to sing with warmth and passion. This piece required many dynamic changes that made the song sound expressive, with moments of quiet singing building into louder, soaring phrases that brought the piece to life. In preparation for the festival, the choir had the unique opportunity to work with Gordon herself when she visited a few weeks before SCVA; her insight into the meaning behind the lyrics helped Bel Canto deepen their connection to the music, allowing them to deliver a performance that was both heartfelt and technically refined. With its joyful energy and heartfelt message, I Celebrate Life served as a fitting and memorable conclusion to Bel Canto’s SCVA performance.
Bel Canto’s dedication and hard work throughout the season paid off as they earned a Superior rating at SCVA. After countless hours of rehearsal and meticulous attention to detail, they delivered a performance they could be proud of. The choir members celebrated their achievement, knowing that their commitment and passion had culminated in a rewarding and memorable experience.
