The Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) Seahawk Singers performed their Spring Concert, Wednesday, May 29 in the high school auditorium, marking final choral performances for seniors Suzie Edwards and Kai Pitcher. About 35 attended the concert.

Nine singers, under the direction of Dr. Mary Miller, performed a dozen songs spanning genres from classical to jazz: from Shakespeare to sea chantey. The show began with the jazzy “Bewitched” by Hart and Rodgers, arranged by Lojeski (1941) performed by the entire ensemble with break out solos by Sarah Harris and Rose Campbell.

“We Dance” by Ahrens and Flaherty, arranged by Beck (1990) and “Kyre Eleison” by Donnelly and Strid (1985) were interwoven with “After the Rain” by Canadian composer Sarah Quartel  (2022) and “Cornerstone” by Shawn Kirchner (2014), popular re-performances of songs from the 2023 winter concert at Southport United Methodist Church. “Cornerstone” included solos from Edwards and Hannah Hills. Irish Folk song “Down by the Sally Gardens,” originally an 1865 Yeats poem arranged by Spevacek in 1939, rounded out the first set of songs.

Miller stepped away from the piano for the next performance, “World Burn,” by Benjamin and Richmond (2018) from the recent BRHS Drama presentation of “Mean Girls Jr.” Soulful, guttural at times, and dark in its content, Edwards delivered an impressive solo.

“Bring Me a Little Water Sylvie,” the 1936 American folk song by Huddie Ledbetter (aka Lead Belly, aka “The King of the 12-String Guitar”) and arranged by Jones, was performed a cappella by the full chorus with break out solos by Hills and Harris. The most engaging folk song of the evening, “Wellerman,” a traditional sea chantey (New Zealand spelling) of unknown date, arranged by Ayres and viral on Tik Tok in 2021, was an audience favorite.

“Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind,” a Shakespeare poem with music by Schram (2006), “The Wish” by Audrey Snyder (date unknown) and “Seasons of Love” by Larson, arranged by Emerson (1996) from the Broadway musical “Rent,” concluded the program. “Seasons of Love” contained solo performances by Edwards and Pitcher, in their final performance at BRHS chorus.

Awards and recognitions followed the concert. Edwards and Hills were recognized as district chorus and All State Chorus members. Pitcher, Campbell, Harris, and Sophia Mansfield were recognized as district chorus members. Pitcher was honored for her student writer award and playwright accomplishments for her original play “The Final Chapter,” which won silver in Class B competition at the One Acts Regional Festival this past March. Edwards was honored for receiving an All Festival Cast Acting Award for her role in Pitcher’s play.

The chorus rallied to end the evening with a final song, John Rutter’s “Gaelic Blessing” (1984).

BRHS Chorus includes Rose Campbell, Skyla Carrier, Suzie Edwards, Hannah Hills, Lexi Hughes, Chou Nguyen, Sarah Harris, Chloe Joneth, Sophia Mansfield, Justine Marshall and Kai Pitcher. All instrumental accompaniments were performed by Miller.