Each year, the San Marcos High School choir attends the WorldStrides competition, a highly competitive choir festival held in different places around the country. This year, San Marcos’s Enchante and Madrigals were invited to attend the Festival of Gold in Nashville, Tennessee. Not only did each of the choir groups score exceptionally high, but they also had an amazing and educational trip to Nashville.
On their four-day trip, these students had the amazing opportunity to travel and do what they love, while also being able to work with judges with extraordinary skill sets, learn about music history, and connect with each other and with members of choirs around the country. They were able to go to educational interactive museums, go to dinner, line dancing, as well as show off their advanced singing skills in front of many other choirs.
During their trip, they worked with experienced adjudicators during their one-on-one meetings with the judges and got in-depth directions from each one. When they applied these tips to their performances, each choir was able to increase their score from previous years; Madrigals’ Men scored an average of 92, with Madrigals scoring an average of 96 overall. Enchante also scored very well, with an average of 95. The choir students and their choir director Eleni Pantages were all very proud of themselves and what they accomplished. They had been working towards their goals since late January, giving them only about two months to prepare for the competition. In the end, they did absolutely amazing!
However, these students did more than just work on their trip; they gained an immense amount of experience and musical knowledge. They were able to go to the National Museum of African American Music, where they learned about the cultural importance of African American music. They also visited the Country Music Hall of Fame, where they learned about the history of country music and important figures of country music. Also in Nashville, the group went line dancing and learned many different dances.
“I had such an incredible experience in Nashville! I had never been before, so it was amazing to explore the vibrant and lively culture of the city, as well as perform in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. I made so many memories that will last a lifetime, and this was the perfect trip to end my four years with Enchanté,” says Senior Chloe Nydam.
These incredibly talented students continue to shock the San Marcos community with their exceptional talent and skill. Make sure you don’t miss the chance to see these amazingly gifted students at their spring concert on May 7th at San Roque church and their pop show “I Love The 80s” on June 5th at the MPAC.