The Huntington High School chamber choir has reached the finals of News 12’s annual Sounds of the Season competition, which showcases outstanding young individual and group musical talent. The Blue Devils advanced to the Top 12 round this week. Voting is ongoing on the News 12 website.
Vote early and vote enough. Finally that old adage that is a rather sarcastic reference to political corruption in certain locales applies here in a very good and completely acceptable way. An individual can vote up to five times a day for the Huntington chamber choir, which took an early lead in the News 12 vote.
Visit http://longisland.news12.com/link/804288/sounds-of-the-season-vote-on-the-top-12 to cast a vote for the Huntington chamber choir in the competition.
Huntington High School music teacher Victoria Garbarino is the choir’s director. The choir’s executive board consists of Isabella Cahill (president), Mia Nitekman (vice president), Abby Semelsberger (treasurer), Julia Segal (secretary) and Andy Ulloa (historian).
The group has performed publicly many times this year and earned rave reviews each time. “The chamber choir works extremely hard to provide their community with wonderful music,” Ms. Garbarino said. “They put together a really fantastic holiday program that would be amazing to share with the rest of the island.”
Choir members approach their rehearsals and performances with a remarkable degree of professionalism. They have received many accolades and regularly express pride in representing Huntington during community events.
“I think this year is definitely one of our best as we have such a hardworking group,” Ms. Cahill said. “Everyone is so dedicated and motivated and it’s such a pleasure to work with this group my senior year. Our director, Ms. Garbarino continuously pushes us to sound our best during both rehearsals and performances and it certainly makes us more of a family. The group’s drive is really what makes our sound and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The chamber choir consists of sophomores Chloe Wheeler, Katherine Eichenberger, Grace Kenny and Jaiden Erickson; juniors Livia D’Anna, Abby Semelsberger, Madison Lange, Julia Segal, Faith Youngquist, Bella Neira, Joshua Avidor, Keenan Lyons, Zubair Ali, Ryan Gibson, Carlos Reyes, Robert-Jean Gilles, Manny Reyes, Cobin Black, Brenden Garcia, Max Mittelman and Xavier Perez; seniors Andy Ulloa, Rashad Michaels, Isabella Cahill, Natalie Gonzalez, Mia Nitekman, Lea Laponti, Jessica Henning and Alexis Smith.
“It’s an amazing group this year,” Mr. Ulloa said. “I love being an officer because the members come up with ideas and I help create them. Chamber has a very special place in my heart. It’s a place where we all come together and share the love of music.”
