Winchester middle school choir wins music awards

Globe North People

June 30, 2011|By Wendy Killeen, Globe Correspondent

The Jubilation Singers from the McCall Middle School in Winchester won…

BRAVO FOR WINCHESTER SINGERS: The Jubilation Singers, a show choir from the McCall Middle School in Winchester, recently won four out of five awards at the Music in the Parks-Lake Compounce Music Festival in Bristol, Conn.

The 29-voice ensemble of seventh- and eighth-graders competed against eight other groups, both vocal and instrumental. They performed four pieces, three of which were judged, accompanied by pianist Irina Chelnokova, a Lynch School music specialist; flutist Katya Vigil, mother of one of the singers; and Colin Foote, a McCall Middle School drummer. Choreography was by Becca Greaves, a recent graduate of Winchester High School.

The group won two trophies for Best Show Choir and Best Overall. Kyra Komen won Best Vocal Soloist. Foote was named Best Student Accompanist.

The choir was founded two years ago by Joel Buford, a music teacher at the middle school and a former show choir participant. He is the group’s music director.

“Both on stage and off, this is a remarkable and talented group of young ladies and gentlemen,’’ said Marybeth Kimbell, who chaperoned the trip.

WHAT A FOURTH: The House of the Seven Gables in Salem has two reasons to celebrate July Fourth: the birth of the nation and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s birthday.

Hawthorne, the author of “The House of the Seven Gables,’’ was born in Salem on July 4, 1804. For decades, the Gables has marked the occasion with a seaside picnic and fireworks.

This year, to honor the 161st anniversary of the writing of the book, the Gables is introducing a new activity. From 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., it is hosting a marathon reading of “The House of the Seven Gables,’’ in the Visitors Center. Area politicians, professors from Salem State University, and local authors will read from the novel at the antique desk on which it was written. The reading is open to the public and free.

At 7 p.m., families are invited to enjoy a boxed picnic dinner from Wichit gourmet sandwiches. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. The evening concludes with birthday cake and a front-row seat for Salem’s fireworks over the harbor.

Tickets for the picnic and fireworks are $25; $12 for children under 12. For members of the Gables, tickets are $20; $10 for children. Reservations are suggested. Call 978-744-0991, ext 104.

RUN FOR BROOKSBY: People who live and work at Brooksby Village, a retirement community in Peabody, recently walked or ran a mile in the 10th annual Brooksby Marathon, raising $400 for the Benevolent Care Fund.