***This article was written by Floyd Jenkins, a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
WOODHULL — AlWood Junior-Senior High School hosted the annual District 2 Lincoln Trail Conference (LTC) choir festival on Monday in the school gymnasium, with all District 2 schools in attendance.
The program featured a variety of pieces, including Festival Sanctus (a Latin song meaning “Holy festival”), He Never Failed Me Yet, Wide Open Spaces, Mama Who Bore Me (performed by female singers), The Wellerman (performed by male singers), and Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Five schools — ROWVA, Princeville, Stark County, Galva and United contributed soloists for selections such as Mama Who Bore Me and He Never Failed Me Yet.
The evening concert followed rehearsals that afternoon. The event was organized by District 2 music directors and conducted by Bob Fornander.
Among the participating directors was Hannah Wyrick, chorus director at Wethersfield High School.
“I think LTC is a great opportunity for students to not only sing music, but make friends, sing with other schools, and learn from a director who has taught music for many years,” Wyrick said. “It’s a great way to see how other students learn choir music and how other teachers in our area teach their choir programs.
“At LTC, we also get to sing SATB music, meaning there are two different parts for the ladies and two for the gentlemen. At Wethersfield, we currently sing SAB music, so it’s great for our group to experience four-part music even though we can’t do this at Wethersfield yet. We’ll get there eventually.”
Wethersfield student Leylanie Reyes-Pena focused on the connections made during the festival.
“I think it really opens up the door for growth and communication, as well as allows friendships,” Reyes-Pena said.
