Bonner choir director grows, strengthens program

Archive for Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Several members of Project X, a select Bonner Springs High School choir, performed Tuesday night at the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner in Edwardsville.

By Jesse Truesdale

January 30, 2008

Bonner Springs — Bigger isn't always better. But under the directorship of Brian White, the Bonner Springs High School choirs have grown as well as been honored with a number of awards and recognitions that grows each year.

Before White took assumed the helm as director, the choir program had 60 students, said Jim Hanson, assistant principal. Now, there are 250 choir students, which is nearly one third of the 775-student enrollment at the school.

White said the key to the choir's growth and continuing success was building relationships.

"We talk about extended family in our classrooms," White said. "We spend a lot of time with each other. We feel like extended family."

That feeling is mutual, as is attested by the fact that alumni come to watch practices at 7:30 in the morning when home for Christmas break, White said. Already 20 have made such visits this year.

"Kids love it," White said. "They invite their friends."

As for White's own secret in remaining enthusiastic about the program, "I love the kids as if they were my own," he said. "People ask me if I have any children. I have 250."

White's commitment to the program, as well as many of his students, is shown by the fact they start their day at 7 a.m. each school morning with practice, 45 minutes before classes begin.

White said he thinks the choir experience is a positive influence on students' non-choir lives.

"It can't help but spill out into other classrooms," White said. "They pick up lot of life skills."

Those skills include attention to detail, and "how to take something black-andd-white, and be creative and make it real to somebody," White said, and how to work with other.

Also, White said, "something they learn from me is how to motivate and inspire, because I have to pull out 500 ways to do it each year."

Last year White created a new, small ensemble, dubbed Project X, because the 16 singers "do bit of everything," White said, "from classical to jazz to show tunes - any- and everything."

Project X is the most select of the choirs, requiring a rigorous audition as well as interview with White and Project X alumni.

Also, the Bravo Pop Show, which formerly had been every other year, is an annual tradition.

The choir has 10 students in the all-state choir, and the A Capella choir was selected as one of a fe choirs out of 360 schools to be featured in the all-state music convention Feb. 28-Mar.1 in Wichita.

Also the director of the Northwest Missouri University choir has invited the Bonner Springs High School A Capella choir to perform with the college choir at its concert April 13.

"The director was a judge for us at state," White said. "He really liked us and the next day he called and invited us."

"We're extremely excited and pleased with what Brian has done," said Hanson.

Part of the reason for the program's success, Hanson said, is "I think the younger kids see the high school choir perform and want to be part of it."

The choir's next school performance will be the Winter Concert, which is 7:30 p.m., Feb. 21 in the Bonner Springs High School auditorium.

Bonner Springs High School choirs achievements and recognitions,

Festivals and performances

¢ Third runner-up, Best Soprano Section and Best Tenor Section, Concert Choir Cup World Championships (National Invite-Only Event) - Branson

¢ A Cappella Choir selected to be featured high school choir at 2008 All-State Music Convention, highest honor given by Kansas Music Educators Association

¢ State Large Group Choirs consistently receive straight I's i.e., superior ratings

¢ Perfect score on a new SLG rubric for 2007

¢ Consistently the most "I" ratings for soloists at league, regional and state levels for 4A and 5A schools at solo and small ensemble contests

¢Consistently has most "I" rating soloists at League, Regional, and State (4 & 5A) levels

¢ 176 "I" rating medals count for 2007, a school record

¢ NBA National Anthem performed at Oklahoma City for a New Orleans Hornets game

¢National Anthem performed at Kansas City Royals games on yearly basis

¢ Invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in 2007 and 2008

¢ Invited to perform in London in 2008

¢ Students consistently selected to NE KS District Choir (most selected for NE 5A schools)

¢ Students consistently selected to All-State Choir

¢ Students consistently selected to All-State Mid-Level Choir (largest HS representation from KS in both years of existence)