Elementary school singers travel to Eugene

Sisters Elementary School singers traveled to Eugene late last month to lend their voices to a performance of the Elementary All-State Choir.

Seven of Sisters’ top young singers joined about 100 other fifth and sixth graders from other schools at the performance, which was held at the annual conference of the Oregon Music Educators Association.

“I had students sing for me in choir and I chose 10 singers who I thought had good voices and were mature enough to handle a trip like this,” said Sisters Elementary School music director Debbie Schlater.

Seven were accepted. They were: Justin Erlandson, Jessica Wester, Jessie Harris, Haley Rowe, Michaela Fujita-Conrads, Courtney Sheets and Wyatt Phillipi.

Sixth grader Austin Erlandson attended from Sisters Middle School.

According to Schlater, the students worked with practice materials provided by the choir for about six weeks.

That was hard work, but it was nothing compared to the labor that awaited them in Eugene with guest conductor Judith Harrington.

“She rehearsed them for eight hours,” Schlater said.

The payoff was worth the work.

“They were awesome,” Schlater said. “They were so good. And kids made friends and respected other kids. They really represented our school well.”

In addition to the experience of singing in a huge choir in front of a large audience, the students also enjoyed the experience of travel, staying in a nice hotel in Eugene.

Parents assisted with the trip and acted as chaperones for the students.