Fountain Valley Vocal Music’s Concert Choir performing at the “Boo” Concert. Photo by Sandra On.by Sandra On, Staff Writer/Photographer
Fountain Valley Vocal Music had their first concert of the year on Nov. 4, 2015 called, Boo at OCC’s Robert B. Moore Theater, which is just a preview to many of their upcoming concerts. So the question is, was their concert of the year amazing?
As a classically trained pianist and cellist, I’ve played and listened to many classical songs composed by various artists. I’ve also listened to many famous pieces executed by different music groups and chamber ensembles. It’s safe to say I know what a good group of performers sound like.
Three years at Fountain Valley High School, the Boo concert was my first vocal music concert that I have attended. I’ve only heard the school’s choir sing the national anthem, but nothing else. Of course, when I went to the fall preview concert my standards for the Fountain Valley Vocal Music Program were set fairly high. Surprisingly, all levels of the program exceeded my expectations.
Concert Choir traditionally opened up the concert with the national anthem and surely that performance was incredible. Then came the best performance of the night in my opinion, Concert Choir and Les Chanteurs’ performance of Danny Elfman’s (arranged by Alan Billingsley), Nightmare Before Christmas. Not only was this specific performance magnificent, it made not only me but the audience all the more happier because of the singers’ enthusiasm whilst singing.
The first level choir Trouveres’ performances of Hist Whist by John Richard and Ride by Nights by Benjamin Britten were great. However, I didn’t think that it was spectacular and that they could’ve been a bit better. It quite possibly could have been the music given to them that made the performance weak. On the other hand, it is their first year in choir so I expect them to make progress throughout the year; I’m looking forward to seeing how far the will come.
Speaking of first years, Baron Choir’s performance of Monster Mash by Jeff Funk was not only astounding but hilarious as well. You could really feel the energy of the boys’ radiating from the stage to the audience. It was so fun to see the first year choir boys sing and enjoy themselves. The choreography, arranged by Clark Matthews (‘17) and Paige Taylor (‘16), was spot on along with the costumes.
The two most mesmerizing performances of the night were Les Chanteurs’ Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Concert Choirs’ Les Djinns by Gabriel Fauré. The pronunciation for Les Djinns was really impressive as well since most of the students in Concert Choir don’t take French. Overall, both of the performances were hauntingly beautiful. The captivating and haunting voices of the singers made me have goosebumps. If only I could listen to it again.
I appreciate how much effort was put into this concert. The costumes, props and everything made the concert worthwhile.
