September 1, 2008

Vivace Youth Chorus performs in Hawaii

By Gwen Parker
Special to the Times

Thirty-three young singers from Vivace Youth Chor-us of San Jose took a nine-day cultural vacation this summer at the Pacific Rim Children’s Chorus Festival in Hawai’i.

Willow Glen residents Sarina Blitz (L) and her friend Sophia in Hawaii this summer with Vivace Youth Chorus of San Jose for the Festival.

The trip included Willow Glen residents Sarina Blitz and Sophia (last name withheld upon request) and Cambrian residents Gabe Manley, Thea Rodine and Emily Hilton-Nickel. They took trip to Oahu July 15 – 23, where there were 300 youth representing 12 children’s choirs from across the country.

The trip also included Vivace director/founder and Cambrian resident Peggy Spoolas and Manley’s parents Daniel Manley-Arrieta and Jane Bantor, who served as tour manager and chaperone, respectively.

The singers arrived prepared to sing a challenging repertoire of 14 songs in six languages of Pacific Rim countries and islands. “On the first day of rehearsal,” Spool said, “children from the choirs were mixed together. When they began to sing, suddenly all of the choirs became one. It was an amazing transformation and I could see the joy on the singers’ faces.”

Under direction of Henry H. Leck, artistic director/founder of the Indianapolis Children’s Chorus, twice-daily rehearsals on the Brigham Young University (BYU)-Hawaii campus were enhanced by stories of Hawaii’s history and culture. Vivace’s concert and chamber choir singers ages 10-14 were escorted throughout the week by interns from the host choir, the Hawai’i Youth Opera Chorus. After the first day of rehearsals, the choirs walked from BYU into the back gate of the Polynesian Cultural Center and enjoyed a spectacular show with 100 performers.

The singers, their directors and chaperones had two mornings of exclusive access to the villages at the Polynesian Cultural Center. With dynamic instructors, the groups were assigned to four islands and immersed in the greetings, songs, crafts and dances of their Polynesian island. After the second morning, everyone came together for a Ho’ike, or gathering ceremony. Each village performed chants and dances for the rest to enjoy on the big stage at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

During two evening performances at Turtle Bay Resort’s ballroom, the choirs shared their repertoires. Vivace singers enjoyed hearing choirs from Alaska, California, Georgia, Illinois, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri and New York.

On the fifth day, Festival singers rehearsed in the morning and moved to BYU’s Cannon Center for the evening’s dress rehearsal. The next day everyone headed south to Honolulu for an afternoon performance at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall. The youth sang songs from Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, Aotearoa, Samoa and Hawai’i.

Cambrian area students Gabe Manley, Thea Rodine and Emily Hilton-Nickel (left to right) in Hawaii this summer with Vivace Youth Chorus of San Jose for the Pacific Rim Children’s Chorus Festival.

The audience enjoyed guest performances of Mariachis, folkoric dancers, lion dancers, fan dancers, Samoan gospel singers, young Taiko drummers and hula dancers. Sarina Blitz says, “In Hawaii, I had the most amazing opportunity to sing with 300 singers from different choirs across the country. I was able to explore new limits of my voice and discovered some things I never knew about myself. It was an amazing experience,” Willow Glen’s Blitz said.

The last two days of the festival were reserved for touring the landmarks of Oahu’s east shore: Diamond Head, Haunauma Bay, Pali Lookout and a drive through the Nuuanu Valley; shopping, dinner in Waikiki and some time at the beach. After an early morning bus ride and the launch to the USS Arizona Memorial on the eighth day, the Vivace family was very quiet and respectful as the younger members began to understand the significance of Pearl Harbor and what took place on Dec. 7, 1941.

On the final evening of the festival, the choirs walked from their hotel, across the street to the beach for dinner and the closing ceremony. The excitement of the nine days was culminated when the festival participants gathered on the beach at sunset, singing their final goodbye song, ‘Aloha ‘Oe,’ closing with the heartfelt words, “until we meet again.”

Sophia’s mother Carol says, “I am very proud of the children and their performance.” The Pacific Rim Festival seeks to give every child an excellent choral experience and teach them about the cultures whose songs they sing. Making new friends from all over the United States and creating closer ties within each choir were unexpected treasures brought home from Vivace’s cultural vacation.

Vivace Board President Lori Anderson, who is Blitz’s mother says, “I‘m thrilled that Sarina had this opportunity and I know this is a memory she’ll always carry with her.”

Manley said he made many friends in Hawaii, but had only one word to describe the Festival: “Awesome!”

VIVACE, a 501c(3) not-for-profit, begins its sixth year with an open house at the Stone Church in Willow Glen on Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. Rising Notes for 4- and 5-year-olds and weekly rehearsals for ages 6-17 start in September. For information, visit www.vivaceyouthchorus.org or call (408) 885-1746.