In preparation for the Music Performance Assessment in March, the choral and band departments will be hosting their first pre-MPA concert on Feb. 27. The concert will alternate between chorus and band performances, covering all of the songs that will be performed at MPA.
“Chorus members usually don’t get to hear band members, and band members usually don’t get to hear chorus members so it’s a good thing to kind of conjoin,” president of Voices of Hagerty, Annalycia Franklin said.
MPA is an annual music assessment for fine arts programs. After their performances, each group receives a Poor, Fair, Excellent, or Superior rating. Both the band and choral programs plan to maintain their superior ratings this year.
The departments started working on their music at the start of second semester, but they still have a long way to go before their songs are performance ready. However, senior Hunter Winters has faith the band will be able to pull everything together by the actual MPA. Her wind ensemble will be performing “Scenes from the Louvre”, “Bravura March” and “O’Magnum Mysterium.”
“I feel really prepared,” Winters said. “Of course we need more work before the real MPA comes up, but I feel like our band is definitely capable of achieving our goals.”
In the chorus department, the all-female group, Voices of Hagerty, will be singing “Bist du bei mir” and “Lift Thine Eyes.” Between the German words and notes, the group has their hands full, but are up for the challenge.
“I’m singing soprano 1 for “Lift Thine Eyes” so the only challenging thing is the high notes, it’s very high. I like that but you have to rehearse a lot to get that range,” Franklin said.
This will be the Concert Choir’s first year competing in MPA. Therefore, the pressure is on for the mixed group to perform well. The group will be singing “Neighbor’s Chorus” and “If Love Should Count You Worthy.” Senior Kayla Bridge, president of Concert Choir, has high hopes for the choir’s performance.

The show begins at 7 p.m. in the auditorium and admission is free.