TRAVERSE CITY -- "Hey, you!"
A natural comedian, after being recruited (see above) and passing an informal audition, Carter Jones was tapped as jester for Traverse City West High School's 12th annual Elizabethan Madrigal Feaste.
The junior is participating in his first madrigal event, which this year features some 55 other choral students and four Herald trumpeters. New this year during the evening festivities, held at the school during the first two weekends in December, are six band students who will play antique instruments from the era.
As always, a gourmet feast will be served to guests during an evening packed with vocal entertainment. The students pitch in there as well with the serving and clearing of dishes woven around numbers.
Jones will provide the narrative bridge during a tightly packed schedule that includes 30 songs, both traditional madrigals and contemporary numbers, as well as skits, dances and sing-alongs. To that end, Jones has committed an extensive roster of jokes to memory.
"It's a lot of work, I'm on stage all the time," he said.
For a dozen years and counting, Russ Larimer, choral director at the school, has delved into history to create the fundraising dinner, whose proceeds benefit choral programs. Over the years he has developed six or eight basic script formats that include traditional elements from history, such as a boars head and singing of "The Wassail Song."
However, Larimer still allows for spontaneity and incorporates each year's student strengths. He gathers material for madrigal skits and songs all year, sometimes noting an idea that emerges during a performance.
"We do add fresh material from multiple sources as it appears," said Larimer, who keeps meticulous notes each year. "Even from the onset, there is still a lot of formulation and improvisation built into the design. That way we can really utilize the students' best work as we adjust to incorporate their ideas and emerging talents."
Participating ensembles include the 20-member Choral-Aires and the school's Chorale, both conducted by Larimer. In addition, the Westmen conducted by Phil Johnson, and Bella Voce conducted by Stephanie Schall-Brazee, are an integral part of the program.
While the three conductors step in to guide their respective ensembles, the show is overwhelmingly a student enterprise.
"I serve as conductor of the songs that my ensembles are responsible for, but the show is really in the kids' hands from the opening trumpet fanfare," said Larimer, who jokes he tries to stay out of the way during the show. "It is great fun observing the kids evolve, gain faith in each other and grow together as a team during Madrigal Feastes."
Every year, the always busy singers at West High School carve out time from a jammed schedule of concerts and tours to create the Madrigal Feaste. The fast-paced fall and six-weeks of intense Madrigal creation and rehearsals are worth it for participants.
"I love it! Probably for me, Madrigals is my favorite time of year," said Jessica Benson, a senior participating in her third annual event. "You just get this good vibe and feeling when you're singing."
Despite the hard work and responsibility of his character, Jones looks forward to the transformation of both the school's lunchroom/commons area and the students, who will be decked out in costumes from the time period.
"What's fun about it as a performer is seeing the Commons become a very different place," said Jones, a member of the school's Choral-Aires and Chorale ensembles. "(The audience) doesn't see high schoolers dressed up, they see an Elizabethan Madrigal feast."
Traverse City West High School's 12th annual Elizabethan Madrigal Feaste will run over two weekends on Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14. The dinner and show start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person and may be reserved by calling 933-7509.
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