June 2018 | Vol. 18 Iss. 06
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HILLCREST HIGH TAKES NEW YORK; VOCAL ENSEMBLE SINGS IN CARNEGIE HALL By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
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illcrest senior Megan Okumura had enjoyed singing with Concert Choir and her middle school choirs, but she partly auditioned for Vocal Ensemble because of director RaNae Dalgleish. “I enjoyed Concert Choir last year and working with our director RaNae,” said Okumura, who is an accomplished pianist. “She is very passionate about music and getting us to do our very best.” Performing at a high caliber level took on a whole new meaning this school year as the Vocal Ensemble had great expectations — to perform at Carnegie Hall — and under the direction of world-known composer Eric Whitacre. “Last year’s Vocal Ensemble is really the reason this year’s Vocal Ensemble was able to perform with him. They actually did the audition tape that was sent and selected by Eric Whitacre to perform in Carnegie. We have them to thank for this experience as well as our hard work,” she said. However, this year’s Vocal Ensemble did have their work cut out for them. Okumura said they started learning their music at the beginning of this past school year for their April performance. By January, Dalgleish said even with 90 concerts the group was performing during the school year, they still had eight pieces to perfect. Once they learned the pieces, they traveled to different locations around the Salt Lake Valley, including the State Capitol for its acoustics under the rotunda, to record their singing and sent those for Whitacre’s approval. “Some of the songs were fun which made it easier to learn than others,” Okumura said about the rehearsals. “Early morning, late afternoons — it was hard work, but paid off because
Hillcrest High’s choirs and dance company toured New York when they weren’t in workshops, rehearsals or performances. (Photo courtesy of RaNae Dalgleish/Hillcrest High)
Eric Whitacre, the Grammy award-winner who directed us in New York, was amazing and fun to work with. Some of the music was extremely hard to learn like, ‘Rumor of the Secret King.’ This piece was unlike any music piece we had ever sung before.” At the same time, the group also was fundraising through selling mattresses, tumblers and cookie dough. Okumura, who was working part-time at the time, was caught between a rock
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and a hard place. “Because the Vocal Ensemble group of singers is required to be a part of the school’s Concert Choir and be a part of the school musical, I had to quit my job because of the massive time commitment to Hillcrest High School music and theatre departments. This left me without a way to pay for the school trip. The trip was ‘a once in a lifetime experience’ with a Continued on page 2...
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