REVIEW: Crestview High chorus spring concert earns an ovation

CRESTVIEW — A sustained standing ovation — partially motivated by patriotic fervor inspired by the Crestview High School chorus’s in-the-round performance of "God Bless the USA" — closed out the 105-voice group’s 2017-18 performance year earlier this week.

The May 8 concert was an audio cornucopia of music from around the world, performed by the chorus’ large and small choirs, the Destiny woman’s show choir, the debut of the girls’ Stardust ensemble, and finally, the mass choir’s rendition of the patriotic Lee Greenwood standard.

Highlights of the concert included:

•The 17-voice Men’s Choir’s rousing performance of the Andre Thomas arrangement of the old gospel standard, "Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho."

•The Women’s Choir’s lively rendition of "Jambo," a traditional East African call-and-response song that the girls sang in Swahili to drum accompaniment by Emma Wilson.

•A stunning, inspiring performance by Stardust of Moses Hogan’s "Music Down in My Soul."

•The mixed Chorale elite choir delighted the audience with "The Phantom of the Opera," from the hit West End and Broadway musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber; the lovely "Song for the Mira," which drew tumultuous applause; and a kicked-up tribute to Michael Jackson called "Rock With You." The latter was such a new piece that choral music Director Kevin Lusk was passing out sheet music while explaining to the packed Pearl Tyner Auditorium that it was the first time the chorus joined accompanists Leon Curenton and Ryan Mabry.

•The all-girls Destiny show choir presented a sunshine-themed set, including "Good Day Sunshine" and — after a remarkable quick costume change that occurred as a sunshine backdrop was drawn slowly across the stage and off again — a lovely version of "Here Comes the Sun." The George Harrison standard featured a delightful vocal by Amber Sticha, who also received the annual Senior Choral Award that evening.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: REVIEW: Crestview High chorus spring concert earns an ovation