FVHS Choirs Fly South

By Brie Roche-Lilliott, Staff Writer

Concert Choir and Troubadours flew to New Orleans on Thursday, April 2, for a weeklong tour of Louisiana and Texas.

They began their Southern trip with a haunted tour of the New Orleans\’ swamps and then a scenic tour of life in the French Quarter.

On Saturday, April 4, both choir groups performed three songs each at the Heritage Festival in New Orleans.

Concert Choir sang “Verbum Caro Factum Est” (“The Word Was Made Flesh”), “Come To Me, My Love,” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Jordan Reynolds of Concert Choir won the coveted Maestro Award for his solo in “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” The Troubadours sang “Lighthearted Lovers,” “La Cruda Mia Nemica” (“Oh Love So Cruel”), and “Surely He Died On Calvary.”

The choirs delivered equally magnificent performances on a steamboat ride down the Mississippi River and won first place in the chamber choir and large choir divisions. Troubadours were also awarded the Adjudicator Award and Outstanding Choral Group, and Mr. Tison, Choir Director, won the best director award.

“It felt really good to come home with every possible trophy,” says second year Troubadour Noelle Carney (\’11).

Concert Choir and Troubadours continued their winning streak when they were invited to the Heritage Festival of Gold after receiving high marks from all judges. The competition will be held in Chicago, New York City, or Washington, D.C.

“It\’s the best of the best,” says Mr. Tison of the prestigious event. “When we go there, we\’re treated like royalty.”

The singers took a drive to Pineville, Louisiana, the following day to visit their director\’s birthplace and church where he began playing music. The group performed at First Baptist Church and stayed overnight in church members\’ homes.

“Louisiana is a totally different lifestyle; it is a much smaller town than Fountain Valley,” says junior Kevin Le.

The next day, the singers drove from Pineville to Natchitoches for a fun day on the Tison family ranch for a barbeque lunch, tractor rides, and reunion of Tison\’s old family and friends.

Mr. Tison says, “The trip to Natchitoches was my favorite part. Having the students meet my family, and having all my friends really understand what I do means so much to me.”

Mr. Tison wasn\’t the only one to enjoy the day at his family\’s ranch. Senior Cory Kobel agreed that the highlight of the trip was “being where Mr. Tison grew up and meeting his family.”

Troubadour Kelsey Stewart (\’09) says the best part of their side trip to Pineville and Natchitoches was “getting to spend time in a place where Mr. Tison spent most of his life learning about music.”

The relaxing day on the ranch was followed by a performance with the Northwestern University Chamber Choir. Both choirs received praise for their performance.

Afterward, choir members traveled to Dallas, Texas, and had another homestay, this time with students from Keller High School and their families. The following day the two schools took turns singing for each other.

Concert Choir and Troubadours made their way to the airport for their 6:30 flight home to Orange County on Thursday, April 9.

Mr. Tison proudly comments, “The trip was the success I dreamed it to be and possibly even more.”