PV jazz choir to sing at Midwest choral conference

Jonathan Turner
·2 min read

Pleasant Valley High School’s top jazz choir, The Leading Tones, has been invited to sing at the Midwest American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conference in Omaha, Neb., on Feb. 10, 2024.

The ACDA conference will bring choral directors from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin together. The conference celebrates choral music, where directors can “reflect on our work in choral music, finding rejuvenation through inspirational performances and speakers, and rejoicing together in song and spirit,” according to the Midwestern region of the ACDA.

PV’s top jazz choir, The Leading Tones, in performance.
PV’s top jazz choir, The Leading Tones, in performance.

The Leading Tones are one of just 15 choirs selected for performance from across the region, according to a PVHS release Thursday. The selection process to be considered was very rigorous. It included sharing recordings of Leading Tones over the past three years, samples of concert programs, an in-depth essay regarding the goals and mission of the group and the vocal music department, biographies and more.

“This is a huge honor for our program, and we are very honored to have been selected,” said Meg Byrne, PVHS director of vocal music.

Leading Tones are an auditioned ensemble of up to 16 singers who specialize in a cappella performance of vocal jazz literature. The group sings at jazz choir festivals, as well as home concerts, and has gained a reputation as one of the best a cappella jazz groups in the area, the PVHS website says.

Since its inception, The Leading Tones have earned consistent Division I ratings at the IHSMA Jazz Choir Festival, and have been invited to the Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships annually since 2009. Students from the Leading Tones are regularly selected to the Iowa All-State Jazz Choir.

Their ACDA performance is at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha. There will be a send-off performance in the PVHS Black Box on Wednesday night, Feb. 7. The school is at 604 Belmont Road, Bettendorf.

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