Scotch Plains Fanwood High School - Culmen Yearbook (Scotch Plains, NJ)

Page 189 text:

The learning of a new piece in A Capella Choir is begun by sight-reading. Regina Lane, Sally Gilbert, Sheryl Flukinger, Gerry Shultz, Dave Multer. l Many hours of rehearsal under Mr. Brown's leadership prepare the students for their public performances. HTHE SINGERSH Las Contadoras is a select choir composed of twenty-four female voices. The girls com- peted for membership in the choir in late September and early October. Mr. Brown, director of all S.P.F.H.S. choral groups, judged the applicants on intonation, quality, musician- ship and their general knowledge of printed music and musical techniques. The girls rehearsed twice a week under the direction of Mr. Brown or one of the student- conductors and participated in the Christmas and Spring concerts. Membership in Las Contadoras, which is Spanish for The Singersfl demands capability and the desire to learn the intricacies of pre- cision choral music and is a satisfying experi- ence for the members of this four part choir. A CAPPELLA CHOIR JOINS MUSIC DEPARTMENT A new choral ensemble, A Cappella Choir, joined the Music Department this year. Members of the choir were chosen on a selective basis through auditions. Students who displayed more than an average talent in vocal music and wished to attempt more challenging works were urged to try out. Mr. Brown conducted A Cappella Choir in performing pieces from the classical to the contemporary in the annual choral department concerts. CULMEN presents Las Con in all it's glory.

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GIRLS' CHOIR FEATURES BREATH CONTROL Girls' Choir is a group of tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade girls interested in performing as a vocal group. The music they studied this year included a variety of unison, two-part, and three-part vocal selections. Emphasis was placed on the fundamental music techniques of breath control, tonal quality, and blend, which are essential to effective group singing. Works such as Et Exultavitl' from the g'Magnificat by J. S. Bach were representative of the performance of Girls, Choir under the direction of Mr. Brown. All-State Chorus members. Terry Ryan, Girls' choir poses candidlyC?J for the CULMEN photographer. Jeff Squires, Carol Vetere, Lou Coffman. FOUR STUDENTS ACCEPTED BY ALL-STATE CHORUS Each year, numerous high schools throughout the state coach certain music students who wish to try out for the All-State Chorus. After audition- ing, 350 of the students were accepted into the New Jersey All-State Chorus this year. After being chosen, the students re- ceived about ten pieces of music which they learned over the summer months without formal practice periods. Be- ginning in September, four group re- hearsals were held. The weekend of the teacher's convention, the chorus traveled to Atlantic City and practiced almost continuously from Thursday until Saturday when they presented a concert. The following week, the same concert was performed again in New- ark Symphony Hall, concluding an- other memorable year for the New Jersey All-State Chorus. 184

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,.....,.r',j'-M 1ov Smug Forensic Club officers. Walt Farrell, James Wilkinson, Sue Barclay, Wayne Hallard. RESEARCH GROUPS IMPROVE FORENSIC DEBATING TEAMS The Forensic Club seeks to develop in its members the facility of expressing themselves orally. To this end its mem- bers participate in varied activities: debate, extemporaneous speaking, and discussions. The activities demand much preparation, but the participants usually feel that the results are worth the effort. This year's new director, Mr. Davison, has placed special emphasis on improving the debating teams and therefore has divided the members into special research teams. Club members were particularly enthusiastic about the Forensic-Folk Club Presentation in April which continued the tradition set by Spoon River Anthology and John Brown's Body. With such a hypnotic stare how can Jim Wilkinson lose? Walt Farrell, Mike Lewis, Richard Weiss Jim Wilkinson Sue Barclay Wayne Hallard.