by Donna Ransdell, RHS Choral Music Boosters Association
Members of RHS Melody Express and Encore! show choirs recently attended Fantasy Festival 2003, a show choir extravaganza hosted by Bonita Vista High School Choral Music Department. Seven schools brought choral groups to participate in this festival, most from San Diego County.
On Friday afternoon, the girls' groups from each school performed. RHS Melody Express sang "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" (from "South Pacific"), "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie", and "Come to My Garden." During the evening, the mixed groups performed. Encore! sang "Imagine" (with soloists Katrina Burch, Alice Davis and Tina Deardorff), "Bandstand Boogie", "Wheels of a Dream," and "Trashin' the Camp" (from "Tarzan"). While this performance was neither a competition nor adjudicated, directors received critique sheets from choral specialist Kirby Shaw and choreographer Jack Tygett, which assist them in working with their groups later. Ramona's choirs received such comments as "enthusiastic stage presence" and "generally great communication". RHS choirs are directed by Mr. Ron Woods, and choreographed by Jennifer Mandala (Encore!) and Alice Davis (Melody Express). Accompanists were Mr. Ray Woods (choral director at South Orange County School of the Arts at Dana Hills H.S., Dana Point) on piano for both groups, adding Mr. Daniel Riveroll (of Ramona) on drums for Encore.
On Saturday, all seven schools reconvened at BVHS for a day of dance and choral workshops. Melody Express and Encore! attended workshops with dance clinicians Bobbi Adams and Shirley Giltner, and learned dance techniques to assist them in performances this year. Both groups,
separately, had the opportunity to work with Master Clinician Kirby Shaw, choral director/arranger with many years experience teaching and directing high school and college choral groups, particularly show and jazz choirs.
RHS students returned to Ramona excited, enthusiastic, and exhausted -- ready to face the show choir competition season for the next four months.
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