VSU Hosts Choir Festival, Welcomes Nearly 300 High School Students to Campus

Dr. Paul A. Neal, director of choral studies at Valdosta State University

VALDOSTA — Nearly 300 choral students representing 10 public high schools from across Georgia will converge on the campus of Valdosta State University for the all-day, annual High School Choir Festival on Friday, Nov. 9.

“Our goal is to further choral singing in the region,” said Dr. Paul A. Neal, director of choral studies at VSU. “We want to support the local high school choirs with their programs. This festival allows their students to see what is possible when singers from different groups come together and really focus their talent and energy. It’s amazing what these students can accomplish in one day.”

Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., the high school students will work with Neal and a guest conductor, Amy Hughley, who serves as the choir director at Riverwood High School in Sandy Springs and as president of the Georgia Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. The VSU Chamber Singers, a premier auditioned choral group, and the student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association will assist.

Neal said that the participating students “will come together, prepare and perfect songs, learn more about choir tuning, blend, vocal production, and other higher-level choir rehearsal techniques.” The day will end with a recital at 4 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building’s Whitehead Auditorium. The performance is free and open to the public.

Contact Dr. Paul A. Neal at (229) 333-5804 or paneal@valdosta.edu to learn more.