Area high school students gathered at Pacelli High School Saturday, Jan. 28, to participate in its second annual Super Sing event, sponsored by the Northern Gateway Chorus of the Stevens Point Barbershoppers.

“Carrie Gruman-Trinkner, choral director at Pacelli High School, was gracious enough to offer that facility as a host location,” said Norm Barnard, Super Sing coordinator. “And the Northern Gateway Chorus is proud to have a partner such as Carrie who recognizes the joy of singing and the impact it can have on students as well as adults.”

Barnard, chorus vice president of Music and Performance, said organizing the Super Sing event is a yearlong process that involves notifications, grant applications and follow-up work as one school year ends and another begins.

The results for 2017 yielded 68 students registering for the event, along with three music educators. The group was fairly evenly split between boys and girls and the enthusiasm was evident from the opening rehearsal session until the performance at the end of the day.

“Much credit should be given to the clinicians who returned for a second year and were instrumental in the success of the Super Sing,” Barnard said. “They exhibited the same enthusiasm, if not more so, than the enthusiasm exhibited by the students. Kathleen Harris spearheaded the girl’s chorus with the assistance of some of her friends from the Center Point Sweet Adeline’s chorus. Kevin Morrissey took charge of the boys’ chorus and was admirably assisted by One Minute to Midnight, a very talented, up-and-coming Barbershop quartet.”

The day culminated in a short concert featuring both the boys’ and girls’ choruses, One Minute to Midnight and the Northern Gateway Chorus.

 “I think we succeeded in showing the local youth that your enjoyment of singing doesn’t have to end in your high school or university days. This is something we can continue to do every day of our lives,” said Tim Kunze, Northern Gateway Chorus president.

“I only heard positive comments as the audience exited the performance. I believe it was a truly enjoyable experience for all involved, from the students and clinicians, to the audience in the day’s final program showcasing Barbershop singing as a uniquely American style of music which has spread around the world,” he said.