The Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) Seahawk Singers performed their Spring Concert May 21 in the high school auditorium, marking final choral performances for seniors Hannah Hills and Spencer Pottle.

Nine singers, under the direction of Dr. Mary Miller, performed a dozen songs for about 25 attendees. The performance began with the choral challenges posed by Vivaldi’s “Gloria” (1678-1741). Miller selected three pieces from the legendary Latin cantata-mass: “Glory Renown,” “We Give You Thanks” and “With the Holy Spirit.” These timeless, classical compositions offer opportunities and challenges for a wide range of vocal capabilities. Equally impressive was Miller’s ability to provide instrumental piano to Vivaldi’s hymns typically performed by full symphonies.

As is customary with Miller’s direction, the concert spanned several musical genres: Classical, jazz, folk, pop, a cappella, and a trio of songs arranged by composer Roger Emerson that underscored rock-ballad elements: “Lullabye,” “Time Gone” and “Unwritten,” popularized by Billy Joel, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and Natasha Bedingfield, respectively. Hills and Pottle performed break-out solos in “Unwritten.” Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart’s “Colors of My Life” (Arr. Leavitt, 1980), a jazz ballad, transitioned the audience from classical to up-tempo performances. And “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” (Porter, Arr. Gilpin, 1934) known as a shout-ballad with bluegrass tones, was a real treat.

Hills and Pottle shared spotlight solos in “Song of Purple Summer” (Sheik/Sater, Arr. Brymer, 2006) another ballad known for its lyrical plot. Indeed, most of the songs in this performance revolved around themes of independence, springtime, reflection and introspection. Miller’s touted favorite song of the performance, “Sweet Betsy from Pike” (Stone, 1858) is a soulful folk song with western hints, performed by recognizable music legends: Burl Ives, Johnny Cash and a Disney children’s version popular in the late 1980s. “I love to pull out a folk song,” said Miller discussing the value of relatable context and recurring relevant themes, in this case, the American gold rush and the trials of going west.

Rose Campbell stepped into the spotlight and owned "Homeward Bound” (Keen, Althouse, 2003), a contemporary choral song routinely sung to soldiers returning home from service and a timely selection given the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. Campbell did justice to the song’s sincerity, playing to her alto range on a soprano-heavy stage. Our nation’s unofficial anthem, “America the Beautiful,” a poem written by Katherine Lee Bates in 1893 and set to music by Samuel Ward and arranged by Joyce Eiler, was the show’s finale song, performed by the full ensemble.

BRHS Chorus has 12 students, seven who are District Chorus members: Hills, Pottle, Sarah Harris, Sophia Mansfield, Natalie Flagg, Campbell and Adaline Barter (not present). Hills, Pottle, Harris and Flagg are All State Chorus members. The remaining BRHS Seahawk Singers include Allison Smart, Chloe Joneth, Cali Brown, Makayla Abbe and Chau Nguyen.