Heritage Singers at McCall School Win Music Competition

They ran up and down the aisles exhibiting both eagerness and anxiety. The girls wore red gowns and pearls. Some of the boys struggled with the red neckties that accented their white shirts, black vests and matching pants. It was Thursday night, May 1, McCall School auditorium, the Heritage Singers’ dress rehearsal before a competition that all 55 chorus members had been eagerly anticipating the entire school year.

Joel Buford, their teacher, coach and advocate summoned them to the stage and they took their places. Under his gentle command, they instantly transformed from their pre-performance chaos to a polished, focused and confident seventh and eighth grade chorus.  They mesmerized the parent-only audience that called for an encore.

Their success was a precursor of things to come. Two days later, at the Music in the Parks Festival in Agawam, MA, the young singers put their hearts and voices into their music, I am America and Batoto Yetu.  They listened nervously to other schools’ performances, only much later learning that they had not only been rated Superior, but also won best in their division. In addition, Julia Blakely was selected as the best female vocal for her solo in I am America.

At the festival, the Heritage Singers, comprised of students who don’t have to audition but merely express their commitment to singing, competed against eight middle school choruses, some of which do require auditions. Yet Heritage prevailed. The outcome can be attributed to a dedicated teacher and students as well as the parents and community who support them.

Mr. Buford, as he’s known to his students, takes music and performance seriously. But according to the well-loved teacher, this is about more than a musical competition. “This is about life-building skills: trust, respect, camaraderie.”

Those lessons, expressed in their music, were evident on Saturday, May 3. “All of the students gave the best of what they had on stage,” said Winchester Community Music School’s Asako Shibata, who accompanied the chorus on piano. The results of weekly practices that began in September, increasing to daily ones in the two weeks before competition, clearly pleased the judges, one of whom said, "I'm impressed with their attention, their joy and that they're taking everything they've been taught, seriously... I'm happy to start my day this way... Wonderful group!” 

Joel Buford selected the name Heritage Singers to convey the value of tradition and the lessons of people coming together. The group had to learn to work as one not only at practice but also at fundraising events.  A raffle, bake sale and car wash brought in money to support their trip to the Agawam competition. Additional monies were generously provided by En Ka Society and Winchester Rotary Club.

The Heritage Singers are unique: a high quality chorus that doesn’t require audition. 

“Some students are too intimidated to audition,” explains Joel Buford. “But this group lets kids who want to sing benefit from the experience of performing in a musical competition.”  

Mikie Ulwick, a parent, agrees. “My daughter loves to sing but did not have the confidence to audition. Heritage gave her the opportunity to pursue her desire and find her voice.”

The chorus spent the afternoon at Six Flags New England before finding out they won. They tried not to worry about the outcome and enjoy the few hours off. Needless to say, they were thrilled to learn at the awards ceremony the judges thought they were the best chorus performing that day.   

Asked what was the best part of the event, one singer, Pang Boches, declared without a second thought, “Everything.”

Music in the Park festivals provide an opportunity for choral groups or bands to be judged by university professors.  They are given comments and advice, along with a score that places the musical group in one of five categories: Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent, or Superior.  The highest score in each division, Mixed Choir in the case with Heritage, takes the top prize.