Highlands Youth Ensemble Performs at Carnegie Hall

The Highlands Youth Ensemble (HYE), MECCA's high-school mixed choral group with members from Green County, TN to Washington County, VA, performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 27 - a special mass chorale performance of John Rutter's Requiem, under the direction of the renowned English composer himself.  More than 20 of the HYE members made this trip, joining other choirs from around the U.S. on stage.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our singers," said Jane DeLoach Morison, HYE director.  "Carnegie Hall represents a pinnacle of achievement for musicians, and performing under the baton of John Rutter is an extraordinary honor.  The music was beautiful, and our students dedicated themselves to the effort of learning it.  In fact we performed Requiem locally three times in its entirety before going to New York.  I am so proud of Highlands Youth Ensemble!"

The ETCC and Da Capo children were asked to perform at the first birthday celebration for the Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City, TN on March 2nd.  This was a great honor for the children to be asked to perform at this event, and a great opportunity to give back to the community by sharing their musical talents.  The children san several songs, plus "Happy Birthday" to the hospital.  We had the opportunity to sing on live television.

THE E.T.S.U. DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE FIRST WINNER OF THE KENTON COE COMPOSITION ENDOWMENT AWARD to Bradley A. Fore.

Bradley Fore is an E.T.S.U. Senior studying Music Education.  He is from Glade Spring, Virginia.  Fore is taking composition lessons from Dr. Maria A. Niederberger at E.T.S.U.  One of Fore's formative musical experiences during high school was that he was singing in the Highland Youth Ensemble (HYE).  In spring of 2009, Fore conducted the E.T.S.U. Chorale as they debuted his first major compositional work, Liberty, on their annual semester concert.  The HYE is planning to sing Fore's second movement of Liberty during their Spring 2010 season.

On November 16, 2009, the ETCC and HYE performed in the "Youth for Youth" Concert witht he Symphony of the Mountains Youth Orchestra and Symphony of the Mountains Youth String Ensemble at Toy F. Reid Employee Center, Kingsport.  We performed two wonderful concerts.  The first concert was in the morning for area school children to introduce the students to the Youth Orchestra and to our choirs.  The second concert was in the evening and was open to the public.

We are grateful to Mr. Ross Bader, the Symphony of the Mountains Youth Orchestra Director for agreeing to the collaboration, and for helping to choose the repertoire that would fit so beautifully with his outstanding program.

The ETCC did a wonderful job singing "Schlittle" by ETSU Composition Professor, Dr. Maria Niederberger.  (Dr. Niederberger also serves as our MECCA Board Chairperson!) It was wonderful that she was able to attend and be able to explain the song for the children.  Our two soloists, Sarah King and Maggie Melton did an outstanding performance!

The HYE and ETCC sounded amazing with "Dry Your Tears, Afrika" from the movie, Amistad.  That was a brilliant piece to perform with the Orchestra.

Others that need to be recognized are Benjamin Dawson, as a composer and as SMYO Concertmaster!  We are also proud to have not only Benjamin, but several other ETCC and HYE members that play an instrument for SMYO and SMYSE.  They are:  Bethany Dawson, Chloe and Nolan Harvel, Taylor Moorefield, Claire and Peter Morison, and Julianne Park.  What a wonderful job they did during the concert!