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Neighbors | Zack Shively.Linda Smrek directed the choir with help from Laura Kotheimer and had a piano accompaniment from Linda Taylor. Pictured, the Spartan Singers performed "No Place Like Home for the Holidays."
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The chorale mixed certain members of the Boardman Singers and the Spartan Singers for a song and dance full of characters and humorous banter. Students dressed up as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Suzy Snowflake and Santa Claus for the chorale.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The Boardman High School Choir traveled between the four elementary schools. They had four performances from the Boardman Singers, an all-female choir; the Spartan Singers, an all-male choir; a chorale, which combined certain members from both groups; and a final performance of everyone in the choir. Pictured, the Boardman Singers sang "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.All members of the BHS choir joined together for the final song, "Peace, Peace." Before the performance, director Linda Smrek asked any former students of the elementary in which they were performing to come forward. She also asked that siblings and "Little Spartans" join their family members or their "Big Spartans."
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The Spartan Singers performed a Tahitian folk song full of clapping and stomping. They ran into the audience and danced by the students and gave them high fives and handshakes during their song.
By ZACK SHIVELY
The Boardman High School choir traveled to all four elementary schools to perform holiday songs for the young students on Dec. 8.
Linda Smrek directed the choir with the help of assistant Laura Kotheimer and with the accompaniment of Linda Taylor, choir teacher at Glenwood Junior High School, on the piano. The choir sang and danced with choreography done by Nick Opritza.
Smrek, an alumni of Boardman schools, said the tradition of the BHS choir playing at the elementary schools dates back to when she was in elementary school. She believes the tradition is an important one.
“All of the elementary schools should be exposed to all of the arts,“ Smrek said, explaining that the students travel to the high school to see the marching and orchestra bands play during the school year
The choir performed in three groups, the Boardman Singers, an all-female choir; the Spartan Singers, an all-male choir; and a chorale, which combined certain members from both groups. The choirs all sang together to finish the concert for the students.
Both the Boardman and Spartan singers sang a number of holiday songs. The Boardman Singers sang “Do You Want to Build a Snow Man?“ and ”Deck the Halls,” as well as a couple other songs. The Spartan Singers started with the slower, “No Place like Home for the Holidays,“ then performed a Tahitian folk song full of clapping and stomping. The choir walked into the crowd of students and gave them high fives and handshakes.
The chorale did a performance titled “Frosty Follies,“ which included a number a holiday songs done in a quick and fun way, similar to a variety show. The series of songs included dance moves and humorous banter between songs. Four students dressed as the Christmas characters Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Suzy Snowflake and Santa Claus.
All of the singers came together for the final song, “Peace, Peace.“ Smrek had the choir students stand in the front if they attended to the elementary school in which they were performing. She also asked the elementary school students to come up and sing if they had a sibling or “Big Spartan” in the group.
Their ended their tour at West Boulevard Elementary School. They had extra time so Smrek had the singers end the performance with “Carol of Bells.“