By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
GRAND RAPIDS—When Plainwell Middle School choir director Rachel Quillian applied to have her Honors Choir perform at the Michigan Music Conference, she wasn’t sure what to expect.
“It’s usually high school choirs that perform at the conference, so we weren’t sure how much of a chance we had of being accepted,” Quillian said.
And while the odds didn’t seem to be in their favor, members of the PMS Honors Choir were indeed selected and performed at the conference.
The other three choirs chosen to perform were all high schools: Caledonia; Walled Lake Northern; and H.H. Dow.
The experience had quite the impact on Quillian and her students.
“I think this is something the kids will remember for the rest of their lives,” Quillian said. “It is a performance that only a few choirs get to experience each year. And even though they love singing on their home stage in the Plainwell Performing Arts Center, it was a completely different experience performing for a packed audience of musicians and music teachers.
“This was a wonderful challenge, and it was a joy for me to see these seventh and eighth graders rise to the occasion.”
Music educators from around Michigan were in attendance at the performance, which took place at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids.
“Many of my friends and colleagues in the choir field were impressed by how strong and clear their sound was and how expressive the singers were,” Quillian said of the reaction to her choir’s performance.
“People also commented on how the choir really held its own in comparison to the high school choirs. People in the audience also enjoyed the variety of the repertoire.”
According to Quillian, former West Ottawa choir director Pam Pierson deserves a special “thank you.” It was Pierson, after all, who suggested that Quillian apply for the opportunity for the PMS choir to perform at the conference.
“After our (Michigan School Vocal Music Association) State Choral Festival performance last year, Pam suggested that we apply,” Quillian said. “I hadn’t even thought about it before she brought it up, but I am so grateful she mentioned something.”
To apply, Quillian had to submit three recordings of the choir and general information including the age group, name of the choir and voicing.
“It was very exciting news to receive this summer that we were chosen for this honor,” Quillian said.
According to Quillian, one member of the PMS choir commented on how the experience taught her the importance of being confident, while another noted that it was “nerve-wracking but super exciting.”
“It was just an amazing experience for our kids,” Quillian said.
Next up for the PMS Honors Choir is a pre-festival concert on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Plainwell Performing Arts Center along with the rest of the PMS choirs.
Then, each choir will perform for the MSVMA District Choral Festival in March.
“In addition, Honors Choir will likely perform for the MSVMA State Choral Festival at Hope College sometime in May,” Quillian said.
The PMS Honors Choir’s final performance of the year will be the spring concert on Wednesday, May 28, and will feature Disney, Broadway and pop tunes.
