D’Arco and McLendon are heading to Rochester
The ultimate goal for any sports team is to win a championship at the state level. The equivalent for music is being selected for the New York State School Music Association’s (NYSSMA) All-State Mixed Chorus. Cornwall High School seniors Madeline D’Arco and Carson McLendon earned the opportunity to participate in this year’s ensemble, which will meet from Dec. 1 through 4 in Rochester.
Thousands of students auditioned for this honor last spring at solo festivals throughout the state and both D’Arco and McLendon received perfect scores on their NYSSMA solos.
“I’m surprised,” D’Arco said. “I thought I messed up, but I’m excited it’s both of us.”
McLendon shared her friend’s exuberance adding she’s excited to be rooming together over the course of the four-day festival.
In early May, both students prepared a piece and conducted site readings before a judge. Then they had to wait all summer to learn they each received perfect scores and would join other elite singers in the state. Each received a thick envelope in the mail announcing the good news, but it wasn’t until they reached the final document in the stack that they learned they had been accepted.
Both Alto 2 singers had the same judge and sang “Amarilli Mia Bella” by Giulio Caccini. They were concerned when they learned other singers were auditioning with the same piece, but at the end the judge complimented them on making it their own. The piece was chosen because Italian is an easy language choice, but it’s also challenging as it’s not a typical choice for singers in their voice range.
D’Arco and McLendon have been singing ever since they learned to talk. Their first on-stage appearance was in the drama production of “Flat Stanley” in first grade.
Both are members of Love Notes, the school’s acapella group, as well as the concert and drama choir.
They enjoy experiencing the nerves before a performance and the surge of adrenaline which comes as the first notes are uttered, casting away any pre-stage jitters.
Heading into the all-state performance, the singers will need to rehearse pre-selected pieces ahead of time. The first few days of the festival will entail working with the rest of the ensemble in preparation for the culminating concert on the final day.
“I’m excited to hear everyone together,” McLendon said. “It’s going to be an amazing sound.”
D’Arco said she’s looking forward to the process of each individual coming together to form one ensemble, as well as learning a different teaching style from the one of her music teacher.
The seniors are also eager to explore the venue and meet other students who share a common interest.
