Holiday dreams do come true and on January 17, the Henderson Music Company delivered a new piano to the New Albany Middle School band ensemble room. The piano was the grand prize given the NAMS Grade 8 Choir for winning “Dino and Stacy’s Christmas Idol” competition (middle school division), sponsored by Sunny 95 radio in December.
“We put the new piano in the band ensemble room,” said Choir Director Kim Hurst. “All middle school ensembles (choir, band and orchestra) use the band ensemble room for rehearsals and we didn’t have a functioning piano in that room.”
Choir Director Kim Hurst challenged her student to enter the contest as a way to improve their vocal skills. The choir’s winning selection featured their rendition of the Beach Boys’ 1963 hit, Little Saint Nick. The choir was also featured on Dino and Stacy’s “Old Fashioned Christmas Special” holiday radio show, Friday, December 23.
“I told the students the day that we submitted the recording how proud I was of them regardless of what happened,” said Ms. Hurst.
The students listened to their practice recordings and critiqued each performance. This was a unique example of providing students with immediate valuable feedback to shape their learning experience.
The choir, and now all of the school’s musicians, thank to families and friends for voting in the competition and helping the choir win the new piano!
