On September 26, eight members of the Delphian Varsity Choir attended the Choral Leadership Workshop hosted by Willamette University. Selected Delphian students have been attending this annual event for many years. This year Director of Choral Activities at Willamette, Dr. Wallace Long, Jr., organized the event for a male choir. The Delphian students who attended were Guy Eskinazi, Andrew Walther, Jake Kretchmar, Cristian Vargas, Karim Dalloul, Gal Ezra and Chance Furgerson. Approximately 180 young men from 27 different schools from throughout Oregon and Washington attended. Dr. Long enlisted the help of a professional 14- member men’s vocal ensemble, Male Ensemble Northwest (M.E.N) of which he is a member, to help run the workshop. Students were instructed in vocal technique, leadership skills development and prepared 4 pieces for performance. The pieces included an arrangement of “The Star Spangled Banner,” The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, “In the Still of the Night,” and a contemporary piece, “Shout for Joy,” by one of the M.E.N. members, Dan Davison.
The day included a one hour session with our students and students from another high school working with M.E.N. tenor, Kenneth DeJong. Mr. DeJong worked with students on singing independently and on presentation, with the goal of having the boys sing the songs as a vocal quartet at their schools and in their communities after the workshop was over.
The students worked very hard and the day culminated with a public concert by the 180 voice men’s choir and then a concert by M.E.N. The students were inspired by the days events and are looking forward to performing their songs at the next Friday Night Performance.
