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March 5, 2024
Lincoln Academy Singers Participate in ACDA Choir Festival
By Audrey Hufnagel ’24
Two Lincoln Academy students, Kayla Cruz ‘24 and Violet Holbrook ‘26 were selected for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Music Festival. The festival took place in Providence, Rhode Island from February 28th-March 2nd. The students auditioned and were accepted in the fall, and attended this 3-day intensive performance experience in choirs of 260 (Mixed choir) and 150 (Treble choir) students from all over the Northeast.
Attendees auditioned by submitting a video of a prepared choral piece and were selected from across the Eastern US. Holbrook was in the mixed choir and Cruz was in the treble choir. Throughout the three day festival, participants rehearsed music, as well as listening to performances from other choirs, including the music group Voces8. The festival culminated in a performance of the music the choirs prepared throughout the weekend.
The state of Maine was represented by 70 students, including in Elementary and Middle School choruses. They rehearsed intensely with renowned conductors Dr. Felicia Barber and Dr. A. Jan Taylor to prepare and perform a beautiful and challenging program for the public on Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. In addition, their experience was enriched by performances by the Grammy-nominated choral group Voces8 and other auditioned collegiate choral groups from the region as well as attendance at a music-centered college fair.
“It was an amazing experience to work and perform with singers from across the region,” said Cruz. “I was part of the treble choir, and the connection between us all and our conductor was so special. Seeing Voces8 perform live, after watching their videos on YouTube, was also a crazy experience. I will never forget the experience and the memories I made with the new people I met.”
Photo: Lincoln Academy senior Kayla Cruz (left) and sophomore Violet Holbrook at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Music Festival in Providence, Rhode Island.
Audrey Hufnagel is a senior member of the Lincoln Academy Talon Editorial Team.
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The Eagle’s Talon is Lincoln Academy’s student newspaper. Active in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Talon went dark for almost two decades before being reestablished in the fall of 2021.
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