‘I don’t want this day to end’: Durango School District Students shine in Elementary All-State Choir

The event, held at Cheyenne Mountain High School and The Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, provided a unique opportunity for students to sing in a large ensemble while embodying DSD’s Portrait of a Graduate traits as Empathetic Collaborators and Resilient Risk-Takers.

Representing Sunnyside Elementary School were 5th graders Aria Loch and Audrey Dolder, while 5th graders Abril Belman and Michelle Belman from Park Elementary participated as members of the Durango Children’s Chorale. Sixth grader Serenity Hernandez of Escalante Middle School, also a member of the chorale, took part in the performance, as well. The students were led by Sunnyside Elementary School Music Teacher Amy Barrett, who also directs the Durango Children’s Chorale.

“This event exists to provide an opportunity for singers to join voices in a large ensemble and sing fine choral literature under the baton of nationally recognized clinicians,” said Barrett. “Students join together to demonstrate their ability to meet the performance requirements of the Colorado Department of Education and to encourage each other in the unique art of choral singing.”   

Participation in the Elementary All-State Choir required an audition, where students were evaluated on pitch matching, aural recall, and rhythm reading. In addition, students had to demonstrate Portrait of a Graduate qualities, ensuring they were strong representatives of their community. 

The event began early, with students arriving at Cheyenne Mountain High School at 8:30 a.m. for rehearsals. After an intense morning session, they broke for lunch before joining the Middle School All-State Choir to collaborate on two pieces. The singers were then transported to The Broadmoor, where they rehearsed for another two hours before taking group photos, changing into their concert attire, and preparing for their 4:30 p.m. performance.

Students performed a total of six choral pieces, and Barrett said one of the most powerful moments of the performance came while the students performed "We Will Sing the World Whole Again" by Mark Burrows. The piece began with choir members calling out real-life hurtful statements they had been told in the past. The choir then pushed those words away in unified song.

“The students talked about how music can heal hurt and create beauty in the midst of darkness,” Barrett said. 

As the final note of the performance died away, the electrified audience of 1,200 attendees, including conference members, family, friends, and community members, responded with a enthusiastic standing ovation.

For Durango’s young singers, the experience was transformative. Barrett said she heard comments like, “I don’t want this day to end,” and “I really liked singing with so many other students who love music as much as me.”

She added that this was the third year in a row she has taken students to the event, and she plans to continue that tradition next year. 

"I think it is really important for our 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to attend the Elementary All-State Choir," said Barrett, who thanked the Durango Education Foundation and the Durango Choral Society for sponsoring the students’ music packets and registration fees, as well as lunch at the event. "When students are able to surround themselves with people who are as passionate about music as they are, they come back to Durango with a spark they can share with others."