Centennial High School has state’s honor choir

First in a two-part series. Next week, the Las Cruces High School Wind Symphony.

The Centennial High School Bella Voce Choir, under the direction of Christa Fredrickson, and the Las Cruces High School Wind Symphony, under the direction of Ty Frederick and Tai Mikulak, have been selected as 2021 honor ensembles for the state of New Mexico.

The CHS choir and LCHS band were among five bands/choirs from across New Mexico selected for the honor. Both performed honor concerts Jan. 9.

“This is one of the highest honors an ensemble in New Mexico can achieve and our students worked incredibly hard to get here,” said Christa Fredrickson, who directs Bella Voce and is director of all choral activities at CHS.

“In a normal year, the honor performance would be held in Albuquerque in Pope joy Hall (University of New Mexico campus) in front of all the music educators in New Mexico, as well as all the high school All-State musicians. But, because of COVID-19, things will be a little bit different this year. The concert (was) held virtually, and we as directors (worked) since July to make this concert – a collection of music videos – happen.

“We taught the music to our students almost entirely through zoom rehearsals,” Fredrickson said. “Students recorded individually with collaborative pianist Mark Klett, who also did the mixing and mastering. Once the audio files were done, the students met in small pods to film the music videos with the videographer, Randy Baca.

“What these students have achieved in a virtual setting is remarkable, and though nothing replaces singing and playing together, we will have this video to remember for the rest of our lives. I can't wait for people to see the hard work our students put into it,” Fredrickson said.