Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Schools

Singers blast off to past

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE
Published October 12, 2006

INVERNESS - The Citrus High School choral department presented Blast from the Past recently, coordinated by choral director John Edel.

This is the third year the Citrus choral department has had a choral event before its annual Christmas dinner show.

The event featured the combined choirs, which included the concert choir, chamber choir and the jazz ensemble Breez.

Edel also used the show to highlight individual students, who danced, sang and played instruments. They performed between bookend performances by the choirs.

The fall shows have been themed since they began. Last year was movie tunes and the first year the theme was A Broadway Blast.

Some of the songs in this year's event were Nothing Could Be Finer-Those Fabulous Forties; a Manhattan Transfer rendition of Trickle, Trickle; the Mamas and the Papas' California Dreamin' and One Fine Day. The combined choirs dressed in tie-dyed peace T-shirts to perform the Byrds' Turn! Turn! Turn!

The were a few adults on stage, as well. The show's master of ceremonies was Citrus High's media specialist Tim Stuart. And there were visiting musicians.

That included a community swing band called Encore, directed by Chaz Ianacci, a community member who works with the Citrus High School Swing Band.

The event was a fundraiser to help the choral department purchase music, supplies and equipment, as well as an opportunity for students to showcase their talents.

"It gives kids more stage time, and as hard as they work, they deserve to be seen," Edel said. "The more concerts, the better."

The Christmas dinner concert will be held Dec. 9-10. Tickets will go on sale later this month.

[Last modified October 12, 2006, 06:33:05]