Bonita Chamber Singers and Concert Choir Bring Home the Gold

Some of the singers bringing home the gold for Bonita and La Verne were, from left, Laura Pluth, Jami Newcomer, Elyse Smith, Laura Mueller, Rose Hart, Meaghan Henderson, Landon VanLeeuwen, Alyxe Barnes, Diana Wallace, Maggie Marshall, and Vicky Prieto

Talk about carrying a tune and holding the winning notes!

Both the Bonita High School Chamber Singers and Concert Choir won top honors at the Heritage Festival, held in Palo Alto over the weekend of March 25-26.

Of the 31 choirs from 20 schools from four states competing, the Bonit Chamber Singers received the highest score and the Bonita Concert Choir received the second-highest score. Chamber Singers won first-place gold in the Chamber Choir category, as well as the Adjudicators’ Award (score 95 or above) and the Outstanding Choral Group Award. Meanwhile, tThe Concert Choir won first-place gold in the Concert Choir category and the Adjudicators’ Award (score 95 or higher).

The combined groups won the Choral Sweepstakes Award (given to a school with multiple groups in the competition).

A little rain couldn't hold back Bonita's talented singers from invading The Rock.

The judges didn’t spare any superlatives in rating Bonita’s impressive singing talent. One judge said, “Incredible choir. Well-trained and professional in artistry and demeanor.”

Another said, “Exquisite intonation and impeccable diction.”

Another reviewer added, “Exceptional ensemble – first rate singing.”

This year’s stellar performances by Bonita’ Chamber Singers and Concert Choir didn’t sneak up on anyone. Last year in Chicago, both groups won top honors at “The Festival of Gold.”

It wasn’t all sing-and-no-play for the polished performers. When they weren’t practicing or performing, they visited Alcatraz Island, the notorious federal prison in San Francisco Bay. All made it safely back off The Rock and back home to La Verne with a trunkful of trophies. 

Todd Helm serves as director of Choral Music at Bonita High School.

Singing and bringing it home. The dominance of the Bonita Chamber Singers and the Bonita Choir during their recent Bay Area competition has given the La Verne community one more thing to sing about.