FIFTEEN PRESQUE ISLE HIGH SCHOOL choral students have been selected through audition to participate in the 2010 All-Aroostook Music Festival to be hosted by Fort Fairfield Middle/High School Saturday, Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. They include, front row, from left: Sophia Willette, Hannah Nelson and Katy Schneider. Middle row: Kori Kinney, Jordyn Shaw, Liana Cao, Courtney Colligan and Ashley Soucy. Back row: Chloe Rossignol, Kate Campbell, Madelyn Carson, Nicholas Green and Rich Flora. Absent when the photo was taken were Christina Hallowell and Maddasin Willette.
Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD – The County’s best singers and musicians will come together Saturday in Fort Fairfield and perform in the All-Aroostook Music Festival concert.
Sponsored by the Northern Maine Music Educators Association, the concert will be held Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. in the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School gymnasium. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 2 p.m. and doors will open at 2:30 p.m.
According to Robert Helstrom, music teacher at Fort Fairfield Middle/High School, the concert will feature students from Hodgdon, Houlton, Southern Aroostook, Union 122, Van Buren, Caribou, Easton, Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle, Limestone, Katahdin, Madawaska, Central Aroostook, Fort Kent, Ashland and Washburn.
“We’ll have about 250 kids performing,” said Helstrom. “Most schools have an audition process and they send their best students. These are the schools’ most talented musicians, so it will be a great concert.”
Fort Fairfield last hosted the music festival in 2007.
“[As the host school], we provide rehearsal facilities, the concert venue itself, instrumentation, meals, concessions and snacks for the students. Members of our Music Boosters contribute volunteers, as well. We have to have a core of adults – parents and teachers – that help keep things running smoothly,” said Helstrom. “It’s a true community effort.
“Our school will receive part of the gate if there is a profit made, plus proceeds from the concessions,” he said, “so it is a fund-raiser of sorts, as well.”
Rehearsals for the All-Aroostook Music Festival concert will be held Friday and Saturday at the school.
“The kids will rehearse Friday for three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon, and again on Saturday morning,” said Helstrom. “They’ll definitely be ready to impress the audience.”
The concert will begin with the middle school chorus performing, followed by the middle school band. Then the high school chorus will sing, followed by the high school band.
“Each group performs three to five numbers … depending on the length of the songs,” said Helstrom, noting that the concert should last about two hours. “We’re going to do something different this year and combine the high school band and chorus for the last number, ‘Today is the Gift’ by Samuel Hazo. It should be a really nice finale.”
There are four talented conductors assisting with this year’s festival concert.
Jay D. Nelson of Caribou will lead the middle school chorus. Nelson is in his 23rd year as vocal music director in SAD 1 where his duties include teaching middle school music classes and directing the middle school and high school choral ensembles. Nelson is also the musical director for the Presque Isle High School Fall Musical and he directs the PIHS Jazz Choir. Additionally, he is the worship leader at the Celebration Center in Fort Fairfield.
For the past 17 summers, Nelson has also worked as a chorus director and musical theatre director at the University of Maine’s MSYM. He is an active member of the MMEA and Maine ACDA, and has conducted several middle school and high school honor choirs throughout the state. Nelson received his bachelor of music education degree from the University of Maine and his master of music degree in choral conducting and vocal performance from the University of Colorado.
Nelson will be accompanied by his wife of 24 years, Denise Nelson. She has been a private piano instructor for 26 years, and has accompanied the SAD 1 choruses and several festivals with her husband. She received her bachelor of music education degree from the University of Maine.
George Shabo will conduct the middle school band. He was born and raised in Pawtucket, R.I., earning a bachelor of science degree in music education from Rhode Island College. He is certified as an assistant principal and is enrolled in the educational administration graduate program at the University of Southern Maine. At present, Shabo serves as music director of Loranger Middle School of Old Orchard Beach where his marching, concert, and jazz bands have been recognized for their excellence for the past 25 years. He enjoys entertaining throughout New England as the sax player with the professional music group, The High Ryder Golden Oldies Show. Shabo resides in Old Orchard Beach.
Matthew Madore, a Van Buren native, will lead the high school chorus. He is a 2003 graduate of the University of Maine where he graduated with a bachelor of music education in vocal music education. He spent his first five years at Stearns High School in Millinocket where he directed two show choir state championships. Madore is currently in his second year as the choral director for the Waterville Public School system where he enjoys directing three choirs and teaching theory classes. He also started the school’s first show choir program, and enjoys spending his time coaching football and softball. Madore resides in Hampden.
Kevin Kinsey will conduct the high school band. He was raised in Martin, Mich., and received his bachelor of music education degree from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. He came to Maine in 1987 and began his musical career here as director of the Fort Fairfield bands, a position he held for 12 years.
He is currently in his 11th year as elementary band director for SAD 1 and as director of the University of Maine at Presque Isle/Community Band. He has served as guest conductor at several district and county festivals around the state. As a performer, Kinsey has played trumpet with the Springfield (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra, the Springfield Professional Band, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, the Northern Maine Chamber Orchestra, McLaughlin’s Big Band, and currently with the Fredericton (New Brunswick) Chamber Orchestra. Kinsey is a member of the Maine Music Educators Association, the National Band Association, the College Band Directors National Association, and the International Trumpet Guild. He resides in Fort Fairfield.
“People should attend this concert because it includes the best musicians from each Aroostook County community, not in competition, but in collaboration,” said Helstrom. “So often we go to school events where the main focus is to see one school’s team defeat another school’s team; this is an opportunity for Aroostook County students to work together to create something wonderful and special for all to hear and enjoy.”
Admission is $3 for children, $4 for adults and $10 for families.
SEVERAL BAND MEMBERS from Presque Isle High School were selected through audition to participate in the All-Aroostook Music Festival 2010. The concert will be held at Fort Fairfield Middle/High School Saturday, Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. Participating students include, front row, from left: Paul Elish, alto sax; Dannielle Gagnon, alto sax; Thomas Freeman, clarinet; Kyle Goupille, trumpet; and Samantha Sanborn, oboe. Back row: Divya Bisht, clarinet; Nathan Hackworth, percussion; Stephen Goulet, trombone; Kent Smith, clarinet; Adam Scott, trumpet; Laurel Curtis, trombone; and Lucas Cyr, trombone.
