Posted on: Wednesday, March 20, 2002

Kahuku choir wins prize at Disneyland

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

The Kahuku High School show choir, Vocal Motion, sang and danced its way to gold last week at the Heritage Festivals Show Choir Festival at Disneyland Park in California.

Vocal Motion, made up of 32 students in Grades 9 through 12, competed against 15 other choirs, earned a gold or superior rating among the groups that attended the festival, and took first place in the advanced division Friday, said Beth Kammerer, Kahuku choir director.

Three show directors who work at Disneyland Park judged the competition, giving Kahuku the highest ranking, said Kent Smith, president of Heritage Festivals. Only two other choirs received the gold ranking.

Kahuku received additional praise from the judges, Smith said.

"They said, 'Yes, you're good — but you're also one of the elite,' " he said. "In the division that Kahuku was in, all of the choirs received 'outstanding' recognition. They were all gold quality and Kahuku was the best of the best."

The students received their awards at a gala ceremony, with Merlin the Magician presiding. Disney performers Pocahontas, Hercules and Quasimodo were on hand for the event.

The competition was the most difficult contest that the Kahuku students ever entered, said Kammerer. She said she had selected Heritage Festivals because the students consistently win elsewhere and need more of a challenge.

"Disney is a magical place," Kammerer said. "My students always sing better at Disneyland than they do anywhere else."

Their performance of song and dance included jazz and music from Hawai'i, the musical group Miami Sound Machine and selections from the Broadway musical "Sweet Charity."

The students in the choir represent all activities on campus and are well-rounded, Kammerer said.

They include five champion football players, one state champion debater and three members of "We the People" state champion team.