February 28, 2017

WALNUT, CA—Ten talented high school singers traveled to San Jose for the All-State Choir experience held February 16-19.

The Diamond Bar and Walnut High students were selected for the elite group by earning high scores during the regional honor choirs in November.

Congratulations to the following students: Adrienne Caparaz, Eugene Lo, Raji Rajkumar, Matthew Huang, Jocelyn Chow, Jodie Lu, Caitlin Lee, Karoline Chuang, Pauline Crelencia, and Mia Dimalanta.

The teens worked with some of the top college directors in the business, and spent the weekend working on very difficult music, according to Walnut High’s director, Lisa Lopez.

“The singers performed music of different languages, cultures, traditions, and religions, and discussed how it would feel to be the people originally performing this music.”

The focus of the weekend was creating better people through choral music, Lopez said.

“Choral musicians have the gift of words, of course, so they talked a lot about what the text of songs meant to them and having empathy for others.”

After just three days of rehearsals, four groups who had never rehearsed together before Thursday, put on a beautiful concert of college and professional level music that normally would require weeks of rehearsal.  

One student, WHS freshman Pauline Crelencia, even received a solo out of more than 100 singers in her group.

Although there were no trophies because the event was not a competition, the final concerts were an incredible accomplishment of teamwork, spirit, and musicianship. 

‘The kids were fabulous ambassadors for our schools and arts programs,” Lopez added.

By Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources

Shown:

Walnut Valley USD students participate in the All-State Honor Choir weekend. Adrienne Caparaz, Eugene Lo, Raji Rajkumar, Matthew Huang, Jocelyn Chow –Walnut High; Jodie Lu, Caitlin Lee, and Karoline Chuang – Diamond Bar High. 

Walnut High students Jocelyn Chow, Raji Rajkumar, Matthew Huang, and Adrienne Caparaz performed in the Mixed/Women's choir concert. 

Walnut High students Pauline Crelencia, Eugene Lo, and Mia Dimalanta perform in the High School Men's and Jr High concert.