By Dawn Gagnon, BDN Staff
Orono Middle School and Orono High School took home first place and second place trophies, respectively, in their division during last weekend’s Maine Vocal Jazz Festival at Stearns High School in Millinocket. (Cami Carter photo)
ORONO, Maine — Orono Middle School’s fledgling show choir is on a roll.
For the second consecutive year, Riot Sound placed first in its division at the Maine Vocal Jazz Festival at Stearns High School in Millinocket.
Click song title for video link
Now in its second year, the 33-member group of sixth- through eighth-grade students performed the set “Loser Like Me,” which earned it first place in Division 2 on Friday, said Orono High School teacher Cami Carter.
The performance depicted how one teenage girl felt like an outcast until she realized her peers had insecurities of their own, Carter said.
Carter, fellow teacher Terry Henry and University of Maine student Daniel Perkins directed the production. Perkins choreographed the 20-minute number, Carter said.
Also on Friday, Orono Middle School eighth-grader Katie Owen won one of the four musicianship awards, Carter said.
Click song title for video link
The following day, Orono High School’s new show choir took second place in its division with their set “Time,” which Carter described as a story about what people would do differently if they could rewind time and make different choices.
“The set was inspired by someone who lost a friend to brain cancer last year and thinking about what she would have done if she’d had more time with her daughter,” Carter said.
Orono High School senior Giorgia Calcagno won one of four musicianship awards, Carter said.
Henry and Carter directed that performance, while Carter, Perkins and August Eaton provided choreography. Bob O’Neil and Jon Hawley of Maine Robotics helped with the set.
