In each academic discipline, there is one organization that is usually the marker for high achievement and success.  In the world of choral music, that organization is the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). 

The annual ACDA convention features information on the latest choral music techniques and showcases music performed with “honor choirs” selected from the region.  An outstanding choral director is chosen to conduct the honor choir.  This year, Charles Wright’s own Judy Herrington was chosen for this honor.

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Julie Rains Kangas has been an active member of the Seattle/Tacoma vocal arts community for 20 years. She taught choral music at Charles Wright Academy in both the Middle School and Upper School between 1992 and 2004. Julie’s husband David teaches science in the Upper School. Their daughters are current students. Julie was on campus recently and shared her memories of the school’s performing arts program.

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With more than 30 years experience teaching performing arts at Charles Wright, Judy Herrington is the first of several current and former faculty members who have agreed to share their thoughts on the language and performing arts programs on this blog.

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A video with clips from Charles Wright holiday concerts in now available on Charles Wright’s website. So is the student-produced film shown at the holiday assembly about how Charles Wright students celebrate the holidays. Click here to watch the videos.

“To say that the current study hall/choir room/drama space is an effective performance space is humorous, unless it is for sentimental reasons or for the opportunity to see creativity in survival mode,” says Judy Herrington, Lower School music teacher and founder and director of the Tacoma Youth Chorus. She’s got a real point, but listening to the Upper School choirs perform at their winter concert, you would have no idea the conditions in which they rehearse.

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Parents, students and faculty from all three divisions are cordially invited to ring in the winter holidays by attending CWA’s holiday concert series. The choirs, bands and orchestra prepared some beautiful pieces of music. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the holidays with your family and the Charles Wright community. It’s also a great way to support our students and get your children excited about participating in the performing arts program.

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