Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
ALL THAT JAZZ — Houlton High School hosted the District VII Vocal Jazz Festival March 18. Performing a number is Natalie Rush of the Houlton Junior High Show Choir, while classmates appear in the background, from left, Emily Dickison, Laura Beals, Kierra Carmichael and Makala Miller.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Young singers and aspiring performers gathered at Houlton High School March 18 for the District 7 Vocal Jazz Festival.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
BELTING IT OUT — Houlton High School’s Adrianna Moreno leads the chorus, while in the background are Ashton Carmichael, Maryah Ranck, Taylor Forest, Danika Fitzpatrick and Mallory Clayton.
The event marked the second time HHS has hosted singers from around Aroostook County. Schools that participated in the middle school show choir part of the program were Houlton Jr. High, Union 122, and Caribou Middle School. Easton and Caribou high schools participated with high school jazz choirs, while Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton finished off the evening with high school show choirs.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
SONG MEN — Keegan Fitzpatrick sings into the microphone while supported in the background by fellow performers, from left, Becca Moreno, Tia DeSimone, Noah Holmes and Shaina Hamilton.
All of the groups qualified for the Maine State Vocal Jazz Festival to be held on April 10 at Houlton High School. Last year there were 35 performing groups in competition from 8:30 a.m. until late at night.
The music department expects around a similar number of participants from all over the state to be part of this festival this year. 
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
Zacharia Harvey of the Houlton High School Show Choir gives an animated performance. In the background is Ashton Carmichael.
The SAD 29 Music Boosters will be the host for this event and is in need of many parents and community volunteers to assist in putting on this major state music festival at Houlton High School. Volunteers can contact the music departments by emailing Joe Fagnant at jofagnant@msln.net.
The music department will be publishing the competition schedule as soon as the state music jazz chairperson determines it.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
TAKE MY HAND — Tyler Delano takes the hand of Taylor Forest as the two perform a scene from “Hairspray.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
HMMMM — Striking a pose are Madelene Anderson, left, and Jill Howland of the Houlton Junior High show choir.
