WSMA State Honors Concerts

Announcer

The following program is a PBS Wisconsin original production. You know, everybody says, "Kids these days." "Oh, kids these days... Oh, these kids these days,"

mock grumbling

Announcer

Well, I give you kids these days.

John Oelrich

One and two.

"Kwela Kwela"

John Oelrich

Du du tu du du tu du du

Ben Copeland

It's really an experience that you can only get here.

Gracie Kromke

Musicians from all over the state come together and bring their own talents. Everyone is so encouraging, so supportive.

Taja Wright

It's awesome!

Gracieann Heim

So fun.

Riley Brown

It's a lot of work but it's a lot of fun work. Du du tu du du tu du du

Gracie Kromke

I've been challenged beyond what I could have ever been challenged before.

Gary Lewis

It's remarkable, the level of artistry that they have achieved at such a young age.

Braden Cooper

All of these singers are so passionate and are so good.

Isabella Ybarra

It's an amazing experience. I look forward to it every year.

Gracieann Heim

Honestly, the best thing I've ever done in my life.

John Oelrich

They are ready. More than ready.

Announcer

The 2019 WSMA High School State Honors Concerts was funded, in part, by A. Paul Jones Charitable Trust, Focus Fund for Young Performers, and Friends of Wisconsin Public Television.

Band performs "Entry March of Boyars" by Johan Halvorsen

traditional Slavic song

clarinet solo

rousing and confident tone with tempo of a march

Announcer

percussion solo

Announcer

cheers and applause

Zachary Durlam

If I'm only happy in music when I'm at the mountain-top moments, when it's an amazing choir and they sound fantastic-- if that's the only way I can be happy, teaching probably isn't the right profession for me because that's the end. Oh, my gosh, it sounds so good. But I feel like you're living on the front edge of the beat. Let's go one more time from the beginning. Teaching is all about the beginning and the middle. The process of getting from the beginning to that point of developing musicians, of developing skills, of learning a piece from the beginning through the end. And when I realized how much I loved that process, I think that was when I knew I was in the right career.

Mixed Choir performs "Indodana" (The Son) a cappella

singing traditional South African hymn in isiXhosa

Zachary Durlam

Ngob'umthatile [The Lord) Umtwana wakho (has taken his son) Uhlale nathi (who lived amongst us) Hololo ho (represents crying) Helele he (represents crying) Ngob'umthatile Umtwana wakho Uhlale nathi eh Hololo lo Helele le Indodana (The son) Ka nkulunkulu (of the Lord God) Bayi'bethelela (was crucified) Hololo Helele Indodana ( Zjem zja baba) Ah Ka nkulunkulu ( Oh) Bayi'bethelela Hololo Helele Oh, Baba Oh, Baba Baba, Baba Jehovah ah Jehovah ( Ah, ho lo lo Ho le le le He) Oh, Baba Oh, Baba Baba Baba Jehovah Jehovah! Ngob'umthatile le Umtwana wakho Uhlale nathi eh Hololo Helele Indodana ( Zjem zja baba) Ka nkulunkulu Bayi'bethelela Hololo Helele

Mixed Choir sings "Unclouded Day" J.K. Alwood, arranged by Shawn Kirchner

rousing American folk tune

Zachary Durlam

Oh, they tell me of a home far beyond the skies They tell me of a home far away And they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day Oh, the land of cloudless day Oh, the land of an unclouded sky Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day They tell me of a home They tell me of a home They tell me of a home where my friends have gone They tell me of a land far away Where the tree of life in eternal bloom Sheds its fragrance through the unclouded day Oh, the land of cloudless day Oh, the land of an unclouded sky Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day They tell me of a King in His beauty there They tell me that mine eyes shall behold They tell me of a King in His beauty there Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow In the city that is made of gold Oh, the land of cloudless day Oh, the land of an unclouded sky Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day Oh, the land of cloudless day Oh, the land of Oh, the land of an unclouded sky Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day

cheers and applause

Gary Lewis

One of the things that I think is so beautiful about music and music-making is the collaborative nature of it, the teamwork that it brings and the empathy that it teaches. Music is better equipped to make us more empathic human beings than just about any other activity. This is harder than it looks, this last bit, and it's gonna be the key to success. It's really easy when you're faced with significant technical challenges, which this music certainly presents, it's easy to focus on just executing your part. But great music making comes only when the musicians rise above that, rise above the technical challenges and become aware of how what they're doing, works with the whole. Yeah. Terrific, violins. How about a shuffle for these guys? That was rock solid.

Orchestra performs "Jupiter" from The Planets by Gustav Holst

rousing string music

colorful, varied, exuberant

Gary Lewis

rousing ending

cheers and applause

Angela Broeker

There's a great discipline that goes into any kind of ensemble music making. There's a tremendous amount of listening that goes on. Yeah, I saw the little panicked look on your face. They learn to value, they learn to distinguish. They learn to be open and not judgmental. A true part of a community. What's this piece gonna be like? How do I want the audience to receive this piece? And when you come to the cut-off at the end of the piece, and everybody looks around like, "Wow, did we just do that? Did we just achieve that level of music making?" Then you think, "Yeah, we're ready to go out and share."

Treble Choir performs "Bo Yavo Haboker" by Josef Hadar

singing in Hebrew

Angela Broeker

Bo yavo haboker (Morning comes so brightly) Zakh v'chakhlili (clear and fresh today) Mishehu yimtza li (Someone daily helps me) Or biktzei darki (Illuminate my way)

drumbeat begins

Angela Broeker

Ma n'vakeish baderekh, ma? (What shall we ask while walking) Nomar? (On the way?) Ma n'vakeish b'sheket (What should we ask for quietly?) Ma? (What?) Rak sheyorik hadeshe (Just that the grass will stay green) Rak shetizrach hashemesh (Just that the sun keeps shining) Uv'orah lituf rakh, li vlakh (And with its light will strike us, you and me) Rak sheyorik hadeshe (Just that the grass will stay green) Rak shetizrach hashemesh (Just that the sun keeps shining) Uv'orah lituf rakh lakh (And with its light will strike us, you and me) Yeled t'khol einayim (Blue-eyed little child) Li yiftach haor (Bring me light today) B'einav hash'tayim (With your starry two eyes) Li yomar hakol (Help me find my way)

melodic and flowing, with tempo changes

Angela Broeker

Ma n'vakeish baderekh (What shall we ask while walking) Ma nomar (On the way?) Ma n'vakeish b'sheket (What shall we ask while walking) Ma? (What?) Rak sheyorik hadeshe (Just that the grass will stay green) Rak shetizrach hashemesh (Just that the sun keeps shining) Uv'orah lituf rakh li vlakh (And with its light will stroke us, you and me) Rak sheyorik hadeshe (Just that the grass will stay green) Rak shetizrach hashemesh (Just that the sun keeps shining) Uv'orah lituf rakh lakh (And with its light will stroke just you) Mishehu yimtza li (Someone let me know) Keshet l'vana (A rainbow white as snow) U'mitokh hakeshet (From inside that rainbow) Tzlil meitar nifla (A wondrous tone will grow)

solemn piano melody

cheers and applause

Angela Broeker

There's a piece called Warrior that we're doing that tells about young women finding their voice as they age. Yes, last one, go. The piece was written in reaction to an incident in Canada where violence had been done-- perpetrated toward a woman. And you can see through the text of the song and what we're bringing to the song in terms of our gesture and movement, you're seeing how the singers are gaining their own personal voice, and how they're using that personal voice in order to make the society of women stronger and safer. And I think the people in our ensemble connected most deeply with that text, and we're most excited about singing that piece.

Treble Choir sings a cappella "Warrior" by Kim Baryluk

Angela Broeker

I was a shy and lonely girl With the heavens in my eyes And as I walked along the lane I heard the echoes of her cries I cannot fight I cannot a warrior be It's not my nature nor my teaching It is the womanhood in me I was a lost and

stomp

Angela Broeker

angry youth There were no tears in my eyes I saw no justice in my world Only the echoes of her cries I cannot fight I cannot a warrior be It's not my nature nor my teaching It is the womanhood in me I am an older woman now And I will heed my own cries And I will a fierce warrior be Til not another woman dies I can

stomp

Angela Broeker

and will fight I can

stomp

Angela Broeker

and will fight I can

stomp

Angela Broeker

and will a warrior be It is my nature and my duty It is the womanhood in me I can

stomp

Angela Broeker

and will fight I can

stomp

Angela Broeker

and will fight I can

stomp

Angela Broeker

and will a warrior be It is my nature and my duty It is the sisterhood in me

cheers and applause

John Oelrich

I think the arts, in general, are a fundamental part about what makes us human. And it makes us human because

laughs

John Oelrich

it allows us to express something. I'm so thrilled to be back here with all of you to make this music. Sometimes it's difficult to put into words how you feel. But you could play it or you could sing it. Here we go. And so, I think that, maybe more than anything, the arts are important because it helps us teach students how to feel and to be vulnerable with each other. Because you can't get up on a stage, either as a soloist or in an ensemble, and not give something of yourself. You give a little piece every time you perform; you give a little piece of yourself. And that takes courage and vulnerability and hard work.

final note slowly fades out

John Oelrich

That's my band.

Band performs "Magnolia Star" by Steve Danyew

upbeat blues piece

composed with unusual time signatures, rhythms

sparkling, energetic tone

John Oelrich

"Magnolia Star" continues

John Oelrich

cheers and applause

Zachary Durlam

I don't want this kind of an experience to just impact the hundred students in that room. I want them to be a light that shines bright leaving here, that then spreads out to the other students that they encounter. Ready?

singing

Zachary Durlam

And I think that's why the Honors project exists. Not just to recognize the elite students and pluck them out and reward them. But rather, to gather those students together, build them up to energize them and invigorate them, and then to send them back where they can really populate and energize and invigorate their own programs at home.

Mixed Choir singing "Balleilakka" in imitation of the Tamil language

Zachary Durlam

Sooriyano chandhirano yaarivano sattunnu sollu Sera paandiya sooranum ivano sollu, sollu sattunnu sollu Sooriyano chandhirano yaarivano sattunnu sollu Sera paandiya sooranum ivano sollu, sollu sattunnu sollu Paaradi, paaradi yaaradi ivano Paaigira siruthayin kaaladi ivano Kooradi kooradi yaaradi ivano Kettathai pattena suttidum sivano Chan, chan, chan, chan, chan, chan, chan Aey, balleilakka, balleilakka sale thukka maduraikka Madrasukka thiruchikka thiruthanikkaa Aey, balleilakka, balleilakka ottu motha makkalukka Anna Vandhaa Tamil Nadu America! Kaaviri aarum kai kuthal arisiyum maranthu poguma? Oh, thaavani pengalum thoothu vidum kangalum tholainthu poguma? Namma kalathu medu (Ah, ah) Kamma karai karisai kaadu (Oo, oo) Semman alli thelikum roa du (Oh, oh, oh) Aey, aey, aey! Balleilakka, balleilakka sale thukka maduraikka Madrasukka thiruchikka thiruthanikkaa Aey, balleilakka, balleilakka ottu motha makkalukka Anna Vandhaa Tamil Nadu America! Kaaviri aarum kai kuthal arisiyum maranthu poguma? Oh, thaavani pengalum thoothu vidum kangalum tholainthu poguma? Namma kalathu medu (Ah, ah) Kamma karai karisai kaadu (Oo, oo) Semman alli thelikum roa du (Oh, oh, oh) Aey, aey Sadugudu, sadugudu, sadugudu, sadugudu Sadugudu, sadugudu, sadugudu, sadugudu Sadugudu, sadugudu aadiya marathadi Padu, padu paduvena porthiya pulevi Thoda, thoda, thoda, thoda, udaikira pani thuli Suda, suda, suda, suda kidaikira idli Thada thada thadavena athirkira rayiladi Kada, kada kadavena kadakkira kaaviri Viru, viru, viruvena madikkira vetrilai Muru, muru, murnuvena murukkiya meesaikal Manathil irukkuthu mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei! Mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei! Sooriyano chandhirano yaarivano sattunnu sollu Sera paandiya sooranum ivano sollu, sollu, sattunnu sollu (Aey, lei, lei!) Sera paandiya sooranum ivano sollu, sollu (Aey, lei, lei!) Aey, balleilakka, balleilakka ottu motha makkalukka Anna Vandhaa Tamil Nadu America! Aey, balleilakka, balleilakka ottu motha makkalukka Anna Vandhaa Tamil Nadu America!

hand drumming djembes at a fast tempo

Zachary Durlam

Sattunnu sollu

drum solo

Zachary Durlam

Sattunnu sollu Chan, chan, chan, chan, chan, chan, chan, chan Ganika, ganika, ganika, ganika, ganika, ganika, ganika, ganika Oh, aey, aey, aey, aey Kaaviri aarum kai kuthal arisiyum maranthu poguma? Aey, balleilakka, balleilakka oh, thaavani pengalum Thoothu vidum kangalum tholainthu poguma? (Oo) Namma kalathu medu (Ah, ah!) Kamma karai karisai kaadu (Oo!) Semman alli thelikum roa du (Oh, aey, aey, aey!) Sadugudu, sadugudu, sadugudu, sadugudu Sadugudu sadugudu sadugudu sadugudu Sadugudu, sadugudu aadiya marathadi Padu, padu Paduvena porthiya pulevi Thoda, thoda, thoda, thoda, udaikira pani thuli Suda, suda, suda, suda kidaikira idli Thada thada thadavena athirkira rayiladi Kada, kada kadavena kadakkira kaaviri Viru, viru, viruvena madikkira vetrilai Muru, muru, murnuvena murukkiya meesaikal Manathil irukkuthu mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei! Mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei Mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei, mei! Aey, balleilakka, balleilakka sale thukka maduraikka Madrasukka thiruchikka thiruthannikkaa Aey, balleilakka, balleilakka ottu motha makkalukka Anna Vandhaa Tamil Nadu America! Aey, balleilakka, balleilakka sale thukka maduraikka Madrasukka thiruchikka thiruthannikkaa Aey, balleilakka, balleilakka ottu motha makkalukka Anna Vandhaa Tamil Nadu America!

cheers and applause

Gary Lewis

The most important part about involvement in the arts is how it deepens us as human beings, how it broadens us as human beings. One, two, same spot. Music expresses the inexpressible, in a way that's even better than most other art forms. And I feel like in our society today, especially, it's important for us to get beyond the science and the technology-- Fabulous!-- And to be more empathic, to be more communicative, to be more collaborative, to be more understanding, to make us more profound human beings. And I really do think that involvement in the arts and music, specifically, helps to do that.

Orchestra performs "Pines of Rome IV" by Ottorino Respighi

starts quietly and builds throughout

Gary Lewis

"Pines of Rome IV" continues

Gary Lewis

"Pines of Rome IV" continues

cheers and applause

Angela Broeker

I think now, in today's society, where students feel isolated, where they feel alone, where they feel other than; that a musical experience-- more than any experience I know-- brings diversity in a room together, and everybody works toward a common goal. Let's do that, yeah. Good idea, good, good, good! It's not a competition. It's a creative endeavor that brings forth and materializes our shared humanity.

Treble Choir performs "Wau Bulan" in Malay

Malaysian folk song in Dikir Barat style

begins slow and solemn

humming

Angela Broeker

Hmmmm Ewah buleh ewah buleh (Wow, the three-cornered moon!) Ewah buleh teraju tigo Ewah ewah ewah buleh Ewah buleh teraju tigo Ewah buleh ewah buleh Ewah buleh teraju tigo Ewah ewah ewah buleh Ewah buleh teraju tigo

percussion, tempo, tone pick up

Angela Broeker

E wah bule ewah buleh Ewah buleh teraju tigo Ewah ewah ewah buleh Ewah buleh teraju tigo Ala ewah ewah buleh Ewah buleh teraju tigo Ala ewah ewah buleh Ewah buleh

clap

Angela Broeker

teraju tigo Ewah bule ewah buleh Ewah buleh teraju tigo Ewah ewah ewah buleh Ewah buleh teraju tigo Ala ewah ewah buleh Ewah buleh teraju tigo Ala ewah ewah buleh Ewah buleh

clap

Angela Broeker

teraju tigo

clapping rhythmically

drum solo

Angela Broeker

Ewah buleh ewah buleh Ewah buleh teraju tigo Ewah ewah ewah buleh Ewah buleh teraju tigo

rhythmic clapping accelerates

choir cheering

Angela Broeker

Ewah wau!

Audience member

Yeah!

energetic cheers and applause

Heather Thorpe

The students are singing music from all over the world. And every kind of music has a different way to perform it, different way to sing it. If this is our big finale, it needs to be our big finale.

Heather

The singers are also doing a lot of dance in a lot of their music. Much of the dance comes from the culture that we're singing about. Sometimes it's very appropriate to add a motion or movement to the music, because that's part of the tradition.

Treble Choir sings "Kwela Kwela" in Zulu

snapping fingers, drumming

Heather

Du du tu du du tu du du Du du tu du du tu du du Du du tu du du tu du du Du du tu du du tu du du Du du tu du du tu du du Du du tu du du tu du du Du du tu du du tu du du Du du tu du du tu du du Kwela kwela Kwela kwela

joyous swing-like rhythm

Heather

Kwela kwela mama Kwela kwela mama

high-pitched trilling

Heather

Kwela kwela Kwela kwela Kwela kwela mama Kwela kwela mama Mosa di o mo pila so O no o meile ka Mosa di o mo pila so O no o meile ka Kgalesela Kgalesela Kgalesela Kgalesela Mosadiomo pila so O no o meile ka Mosa di o mo pila so O no o meile ka Kgalesela Kgalesela Kgalesela Kgalesela Kwela kwela Kwela kwela Kwela kwela Kwela kwela Kwela kwela Kwela kwela Kwela kwela mama Kwela kwela mama Tu du du Tu du du du du du du Tu du du tu du du Tu du du du du du du Kwela kwela Kwela kwela Kwela kwela mama Kwela kwela mama Kwela kwela mama Kwela kwela Kwela kwela Kwela kwela mama Kwela kwela mama Mosadiomo pila so O no o meile ka Mosa di o mo pila so O no o meile ka Kgalesela Kgalesela Kgalesela Kgalesela Mosadiomo pila so O no o meile ka

singing sustained note, trilling

trilling

cheers and applause

Audience

Yeah! The 2019 WSMA High School State Honors Concerts was funded, in part, by A. Paul Jones Charitable Trust, Focus Fund for Young Performers, and Friends of Wisconsin Public Television.