For the Reporter<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Rainier Youth Choirs’ wrapped up with their season with the Time and Travel concert, a family picnic and recognition ceremony, and preparations to attend the Crescent City Choral Festival in New Orleans.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n RYC choirs entertained the audience with renditions of popular and classical songs from around the world and various time periods. The concert opened with all three choirs surrounding the audience and giving a performance of Bonse Aba, a traditional song popular in Zambia.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Elizabeth Zosel of Maple Valley, Haylee Ball and Julia Howe of Auburn, Julia Rutledge of Renton, and Payton Lewis and Russell Johnson of Kent performed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The final song was a celebration of joy when the choirs combined again with a powerful, on-stage performance of Bonse Aba that included wonderful synchronized movements.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Several RYC members received certificates of advancement, during RYC’s annual family picnic.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 Seven beginning level Bella Voce choir singers advanced to the Colla Voce choir, which is for treble boys and girls, grade 6 and up who have some music reading skills and choral singing experience. The new Colla Voce singers are Ashely Cabatic, Anna McLaughlin and Sasha Reed from Kent; Jenna Gibson, Emi Heinz, and Sydney Lindell from Maple Valley; and Wynston Park from Covington.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 Six singers also advanced to RYC’s Consonare choir, which is for high school and college age youth with strong music reading and singing skills. The choir also includes younger boys with changed voices that have sufficient skills. Hannah Burley and Fiona Higgins of Covington, Ruth Crowder of Auburn, Olivia Gendreau of Maple Valley, Grace Recla of Renton, and Jesse Sigrist of Kent advance to the Consonare choir.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Touring is an annual highlight for RYC members and 22 of the young singers are excited as they prepare their New Orleans tour to work with guest conductor Sandra Snow from Michigan State University. The Crescent City Choral Festival final festival concert will take place in the St. Louis Cathedral. Located in the French Quarter on Jackson Square, this is the oldest, continuously active cathedral in the United States and one of New Orleans’ most notable and recognizable landmarks.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Rainier Youth Choirs is a nonprofit, community-based organization with no religious affiliation that offers a choral music education and performance program for boys and girls.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Summer Choir Camp (Aug. 18-21) registration is available for singers entering grades 4-8 and auditions are scheduled by appointment to add singers entering grades 2-14 in September.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n