
By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
VICTORIA — The Hays High School Chamber Singers, joined by the Staley High School Chamber Choir, Kansas City, Mo., will debut an original song composed especially for them during a free concert next week at the Basilica of St. Fidelis in Victoria.
According to HHS Choral Director Johnny Matlock, the piece, “The Shepherd’s Lamb,” was commissioned by well-known composer Dan Forrest.
Matlock said the choirs formed a relationship when Forrest saw the chamber singers perform one of his songs last summer at New York City’s Carnegie Hall alongside the SHS Chamber Choir.
Matlock said Staley and Hays High have performed together at various concerts within the last five years and commissioned Forrest for the original piece of music.
“We have something of our own,” Matlock said. “It’s cool. Very cool.”
Matlock’s singers agree.
“When I first heard the piece, I thought it was really amazing with all the intricate parts of it and how it was created especially for us,” said HHS sophomore and Chamber Singer Madison Crees. “It is just so beautiful to have that and touching to know someone made it just for us.”
Chamber Singer and HHS junior, Courtney Ellis feels it is an honor to be the first choirs to perform the song.
“I feel like it is a great opportunity for us to sing (‘The Shepherd’s Lamb’) first … when other choirs want to sing it, they will look back at our performance and they are going to say ‘Oh, I want to use that diction or we want to use those dynamics’ so we will be the setting standard,” Ellis said, adding the choir will be accompanied by the piano, and “amazing musicians” on oboe and flute.
Matlock said the song will be published in the spring, when choirs from across the country will be allowed to purchase and perform the piece.
In a lasting tribute, at the top of the sheet music, Matlock, the HHS Chamber Singers, the SHS Chamber Choir SHS Choir Director Tracy Resseguie are credited as commissioning the song, “to celebrate all the moments their choirs have come together to make music and celebrate the gift of music education.”
The concert — Thursday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, 900 Cathedral, Victoria — is free to the public.
For more information, contact Matlock at jmatlock