You won’t aca-believe it, but LHS choirs are on the move with their first clinic of the year.

Carter Datz took the boys and girls from his Baritone Chorus, Select Treble Chorus, and Chamber Chorus to a new and thrilling clinic at UMSL called Acapalooza. The event was led by the director of choirs at UMSL, Dr. Jim Henry. 

“I always benefit from watching other conductors and teachers lead rehearsals. It gives me new ideas and things to try back in my own classroom,” Datz said.

Acapalooza was a two-day event on Sept. 17-18, where boys and girls from different school choirs can come and learn more about what it’s like to be, as Dr. Jim Henry put it, one while they sing. It’s directed to show young and aspiring choir kids a glimpse of what choir can be if you work as a team. 

The boys went the first day, they learned two songs which were “Drive My Car” and “Let It Be” by The Beatles.

“My favorite part was singing ‘Drive My Car’ because I really like the harmonies on the chorus,” Sam Woollard (9) said.

“When we were singing, you could tell it wasn’t us just singing because we had to, but singing because we wanted to,” Woollard said.

The girls, just like the guys, took the next day off of school to go and see what Acapalooza was like for themselves.

One of those boys that went on the trip was Riley Couch (11), who is a Soprano in the Chamber Chorus.

“I noticed when singing if we changed one small thing it would make such a difference in our sound. I definitely benefited from it as a singer in my technique,” Couch said.

The girls got to work on and sing “EBB Tide” by Carl Sigman and “Connected” by Brian Tate. 

“I liked learning from new directors and having a large group of people to work with and grow with,” Couch said.

All and all it was a proud and progressive day for LHS choirs.

“I’m very proud of how our students represented Liberty – they were focused and worked hard, while still having fun,” Datz said.

We for sure can’t wait to see what Datz and his kids have in store for us at their fall concert on Oct. 8.