SIDNEY — Junior high and middle school choirs from the area came together for a day of singing recently at the Sidney First United Methodist Church for the Shelby County Junior High Choral Festival.

Choirs from Botkins (directed by Mrs. Melissa Grunden), Fairlawn (directed by Mrs. Sonya Phillips), Jackson Center (directed by Mrs. Cari Beth Noah), and Miami East (directed by Mr. Omar Lozano) were all in attendance. There were 250 students sharing their talents at this event organized by Mrs. Sonya Phillips.

Each choir performed for the other school groups to start the day. They then split into groups for a lesson in adolescent vocal technique lead by reputed clinicians Deb Bringman and Frank Fahrer and assisted by Lozano.

“It was a really fun experience and I met a lot of new kids that enjoy music as much as I do,” Fairlawn eighth-grader Zoey Douglas said.

Noah led several fun team-building and ice-breaker activities for the kids as well.

The choirs received personalized group workshops with four energetic, positive, and highly respected choral clinicians from around Ohio: Bringman, Fahrer, David Weimer, and Allan Hadley. These clinicians have a combined 160 years of experience teaching choir.