School choirs unite for vocal festival

Students from across the Newport-Mesa Unified School District lifted their voices in harmony Tuesday night for the All District Vocal Festival at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach.

Nearly 400 students participated in the free 40-minute performance in the main sanctuary building before an audience of several hundred parents and community members.

Costa Mesa High School choir director Jon Lindfors led the elementary students’ performance. James Melton of Vanguard University and Eliza Rubenstein of Orange Coast College led the Middle School Honor Choir and High School Honor Choir, respectively.

A rendition of “America the Beautiful” kicked off the performance, followed by two songs by middle school students and two songs by high school students. All students sang “Seize the Day” at the close.

Aside from being a treat for the ears, the annual performance can inspire young vocalists to continue with choral music, Lindfors said.

“They can see this is what it would be like to perform at a middle and high school level,” he said.

—Nicole Knight Shine