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News-Sun photo by SAMANTHA GHOLAR Quartet members direct the male members of Avon Park High School and Sebring High School chorus groups. The 60 young men spent their morning perfecting their pitches and sounds before performing their rehearsed number for their female counterparts Thursday afternoon.

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published: Sunday, November 18, 2012

Students take a few tips from the professionals at workshop

By SAMANTHA GHOLAR

sgholar@newssun.com

SEBRING -- Voices could be heard ringing from the Sebring High School Smith Center Thursday during a singing workshop and clinic put together by two local professional singing groups, the Heartland Harmonizers and Heart of Highlands.

The two groups gathered Avon Park High School and Sebring High School chorus students together for a day of exercise and improvement. Stirling Snider, a member of the Heartland Harmonizers, said the workshop has been held for the past five years.

Vocal coaches and professional singers showed the students a number of techniques and skills that help with their art. Clinician Denise Helbig worked with the nearly 200 girls from the high schools' chorus groups throughout the day Thursday.

"We have workshops like these throughout the state of Florida," said Helbig. "These one-day acapella workshops help with a number of different things for these growing singers."

The girls watched as Helbig swayed and moved as she sang, demonstrating that certain movements increase the range of sound from the singer. The girls focused on widening their mouths for certain high and low notes and better posture for pitch and sound.

Girls focused on perfecting their scale and range as they rehearsed their number for the afternoon's performance of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

Tenors, baritones, sopranos sang their respective parts, creating a beautiful harmony for everyone to enjoy.

Boys worked together in the SHS Chorus room. There, 60 young men were drilled vocally by a quartet group from Ft. Lauderdale. The Heartland Harmonizers also worked closely with the young singers, making sure to critique and congratulate the students on their hard work throughout the day.

The singers worked overtime on their tempo to perfect the old timey, barbershop harmony song "Honey Little Lize."

After a morning of rehearsing and perfecting, the afternoon brought the opportunity for both the boys and the girls to perform their routines for their counterparts.

The workshop was a success and brought a full day of new learning opportunities, bonding and skill sharpening.