Montgomery High choral concert debuts in new venue

The concert will also be the debut for new choir director

By: Jake Uitti
   MONTGOMERY — The first-ever high school choral concert to take place in the new Montgomery Center for the Performing Arts at the high school will be performed tonight.
   The MHS choral concert also will be the first for new high school choir Director Sheryl Carraher — who, before this year, was the director of vocal music at the Montgomery Middle School, a position she held for nine years.
   "I am thrilled to be a member of the outstanding MHS faculty and be given the opportunity to build the Montgomery High School Vocal Music Department to a level that is worthy of this extraordinary facility," Ms. Carraher said, anticipating tonight’s show.
   Some 100 students will be participating in the evening’s concert, which, according to Ms. Carraher, is "many more" than in past years.
   The concert will feature the Montgomery Freshman Chorus, Mixed Chorus, Midday Chorus, Choraliers and the Men’s Chorus.
   As a special note, two MHS freshmen who will be singing tonight, Rami Abou-sabe and Gina Guglielmi, have been accepted this month into the Central Jersey Music Educators Region II Chorus — the first time MHS has participated in this "prestigious group," Ms. Carraher said.
   The concert repertoire will include a "vast array of pieces" including Renaissance madrigals, holiday selections, Broadway show pieces and much more, Ms. Carraher said. "It should be something for everyone," she noted.
   The students have been working on tonight’s concert for several weeks. Along with the music, students have been working with Ms. Carraher on diction, sight-reading, development of tone and stage presence, the director said.
   "The students and I are honored to have the opportunity to perform in this magnificent, state-of-the-art theater," Ms. Carraher said. "We hope to see many Montgomery residents at the concert."
   The concert is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.