Avon Lake Chorale Performs at its 9th OMEA Convention

Avon Lake High School Chorale was again been chosen to perform at the Ohio Music Education Association Annual Convention (OMEA) on Feb. 16 in Columbus.

It marked the ninth time the Chorale performed under the direction of William Zurkey at the nationally acclaimed convention since 1995.

Zurkey who said that in 2004, the OMEA amended its rules only allowing selected groups to perform every other year. Participating for the ninth time, however, was just as sweet for Zurkey.

 “I am honored and humbled,” he said.

The convention received more than 160 audition tapes. Only two choirs were selected by blind audition from a panel of choral music professionals.

The Avon Lake High School group performed a 45-minute program before an audience of Ohio music directors in the Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom in Columbus.

Last year, more than 12,000 music educators and college professors attended the conference, held in Cincinnati.

Last May, the chorale earned four straight Superior ratings in Class AA, the most difficult category of music, at the Ohio Music Education Association State Choir Competition at Medina Highland High School.

In December, they performed a concert with the Cleveland Pops at the high school's Performing Arts Center.