(soft music) - [Announcer] Celebrate America across Montana with Tim Janis is brought to you in part by Don and Marilyn Murdoch, the Montana State University School of Music, the Friends of Montana PBS, and by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(calm music) - Welcome to "Celebrate America."

I'm Tim Janis, the artistic director.

This is the 10th time Montana PBS has produced this program as a way to showcase many of Montana's talented young people from across the state.

For many of these choirs, Celebrate America is an important opportunity to experience the process of rehearsal and performance in this TV studio, an environment rarely available to middle and high school students.

I think of Celebrate America as a music with a mission.

It provides a great experience for the students that they'll carry with them for the rest of their lives.

It's also a source of pride for the students and all their parents, grandparents, and rest of their family.

But the music speaks for itself.

It's beautiful and uplifting and inspiring during these challenging times.

I'm proud and pleased to be part of this mission.

We recorded this program over the Martha Luther King holiday.

The weather was so cold that many of the schools weren't able to travel to Bozeman to perform the songs they'd worked so hard to prepare.

However, several of these schools were able to record performances on their own and forward them to us.

The first of these is Powell County High School under the direction of Karen Herrin.

Let's enjoy their rendition of our national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner."

- We are the Select Choir from Powell County High School, Deer Lodge Fontana, home of the Wardens.

Deer Lodge is situated by Mount Powell, named after John Wesley Powell, the American geologist, explorer and environmentalist.

After an exceptional life, Powell was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

As we sing "The Star Spangled Banner," we pay tribute to the mini pioneers of the United States of America.

♪ Oh say can you see ♪ ♪ By the dawn's early light ♪ ♪ What so proudly we hailed ♪ ♪ At the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ Through the perilous fight ♪ ♪ O'er the ramparts we watched ♪ ♪ Were so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ And the rockets' red glare ♪ ♪ The bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night ♪ ♪ That our flag was still there ♪ ♪ O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ And the home of the brave ♪ - A nice performance.

Thanks so much to the Powell County High School choir.

There'll be several more schools appearing in this year's Celebrate America, who recorded their own performances.

Now we'll be featuring a couple schools which were able to come to Studio eight in January.

While we were in the studio, three faculty members of Montana University School of Music, Rob Maher, Elizabeth Schmidt and Greg Young helped us with the hosting duties, welcoming each school to the studios.

Please allow me to introduce Rob Maher.

Rob is a longtime Montana State University faculty member teaching in both the College of Engineering and the School of Music.

In addition to his professional interests in digital audio, signal processing and audio forensics.

Rob also enjoys playing symphony music, hiking, and road and track running.

Join me in welcoming Rob to Studio A and Celebrate America.

- Thank you, Tim.

Welcome to Celebrate America here in Studio A at Montana PBS.

I'm Rob Maher.

We have a number of wonderful choirs in the studio today from schools all across Montana.

Our first choir is from the Gallatin Valley.

The Mount Ellis Academy Dynamics Choir will be performing under the direction of Liessel Rogers.

Liessel, please tell us a bit about your school.

- Dynamics is the select choir from Mount Ellis Academy.

Our school is located in the beautiful Gallatin Valley just outside of Bozeman.

We have been a member of the community since 1902.

Dynamics is an auditioned ensemble composed of students from across Montana and out of state, as well as from other countries.

We chose to sing this arrangement of "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" because it speaks about the hope of heaven.

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ♪ ♪ I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger ♪ ♪ Traveling through this world below ♪ ♪ And there is no sickness toil no danger ♪ ♪ In that bright land to which I go ♪ ♪ I'm going there to see my father ♪ ♪ I'm going there no more to roam ♪ ♪ I'm just going over Jordan ♪ ♪ I'm just going over home ♪ ♪ I know dark clouds will gather 'round me ♪ ♪ I know my way is rough and steep ♪ ♪ But beauteous fields are just beyond me ♪ ♪ Where God's redeemed their vigils keep ♪ ♪ I'm going there to see my mother ♪ ♪ She said she'd meet me when I come ♪ ♪ So I'm just going over Jordan ♪ ♪ I'm just going over home ♪ ♪ I want to wave a of glory ♪ ♪ When I get home to that bright land ♪ ♪ I want to see salvations glory ♪ ♪ (indistinct) ♪ ♪ I'm going there to meet my savior ♪ ♪ To see his grace forever more ♪ ♪ I'm just going over Jordan ♪ ♪ I'm just going over home ♪ ♪ I'm going home ♪ - Thank you to the Mount Ellis Academy Dynamics Choir.

As we continue with Celebrate America, the Sacajawea Middle School Choir joins us under the direction of Charlotte Colliver.

Charlotte, would you tell us a bit about your school and this choir?

- Sure thing.

Sacajawea Middle School, Home of the Falcons is located in beautiful Bozeman, Montana.

The Sacajawea Select Choir is comprised of auditioned sixth, seventh, and eighth graders that are in the general choir program.

These students are selected for their musical talent, dedication, work ethic, character, and leadership qualities.

Celebrate America is a wonderful opportunity to share our Montana youth and choral music with the public.

While waiting in the Bozeman Airport a few years ago, I was delighted to see the Celebrate America special being played on the airport televisions reaching many people who may not have ever heard about this broadcast.

Thank you, Tim, for bringing Celebrate America to states across the country and to the young people who get to participate in it.

♪ Oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh Shenandoah I long to hear you ♪ ♪ Away you rolling river ♪ ♪ Oh Shenandoah I long to hear you ♪ ♪ Away I'm bound away ♪ ♪ Across the wide Missouri ♪ ♪ Oh Shenandoah I long to hear you ♪ ♪ Away you rolling river ♪ ♪ Oh Shenandoah I long to hear you ♪ ♪ Away I'm bound away ♪ ♪ Across the wide Missouri ♪ ♪ Oh Shenandoah I long to hear you ♪ ♪ Away you rolling river ♪ ♪ Oh Shenandoah I long to hear you ♪ ♪ Away I'm bound away ♪ ♪ Across the wide Missouri ♪ ♪ Across the wide Missouri ♪ - Hasn't this been a wonderful showcase of Montana's talented vocal students.

We could certainly be proud of these young people and their directors, teachers.

The next performance is by Big Sandy High School.

They weren't able to travel to Bozeman in January because of the extreme cold weather, but they made sure to record the performance at home.

"Of Hard Times Come Again No more," arranged by their director, TJ Bond.

♪ Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears ♪ ♪ While we all sup sorrow with the poor ♪ ♪ There's a song that will linger forever in our ears ♪ ♪ Oh hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ 'Tis the song the sigh of the weary ♪ ♪ Hard times hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ Many days you have lingered around my cabin door ♪ ♪ Oh hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay ♪ ♪ There are frail forms fainting at the door ♪ ♪ Though their voices are silent ♪ ♪ Their pleading looks will say ♪ ♪ Oh hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ 'Tis the song the sigh of the weary ♪ ♪ Hard times hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ Many days you have lingered around my cabin door ♪ ♪ Oh hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ There's a pale weeping maiden who toils her life away ♪ ♪ With a worn heart whose better days are o'er ♪ ♪ Though her voice would be merry 'tis sighing all the day ♪ ♪ Oh hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ 'Tis the song the sigh of the weary ♪ ♪ Hard times hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ Many days you have lingered around my cabin door ♪ ♪ Oh hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ Oh hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ 'Tis the song the sigh of the weary ♪ ♪ Hard times hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ Many days you have lingered around my cabin door ♪ ♪ Oh hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ Oh hard times come again no more ♪ - A nice rendition, thanks to the Big Sandy High School choir.

The next performance is by the Hamilton High School concert choir.

The Hamilton Choir couldn't make the trip to Bozeman to record their performance in Studio A, but they taped their presentation at home and they sent it to us.

Let's enjoy the Hamilton concert choir performance of "To where you are" under the direction of Ruth Reneau.

♪ Oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Who can say for certain ♪ ♪ Maybe you're still here ♪ ♪ I feel you all around me ♪ ♪ Your memories so clear ♪ ♪ Deep in the stillness ♪ ♪ I can hear you speak ♪ ♪ You're still an inspiration can it be ♪ ♪ That you are my forever love ♪ ♪ And you are watching over me ♪ ♪ From up above ♪ ♪ Fly me up to where you are ♪ ♪ Beyond the distant star ♪ ♪ I wish upon tonight to see you smile ♪ ♪ To know you're there ♪ ♪ A breath away is not far to where you are ♪ ♪ Are you gently sleeping ♪ ♪ Here inside my dream ♪ ♪ And isn't faith believing ♪ ♪ All power can't be seen ♪ ♪ As my heart holds you just one beat away ♪ ♪ I cherish all you gave me every day ♪ ♪ You are my forever love ♪ ♪ And you are watching me from up above ♪ ♪ And I believe that angels breathe ♪ ♪ And that love will live on and never leave ♪ ♪ Fly me up to where you are ♪ ♪ Beyond the distant star ♪ ♪ I wish upon tonight to see you smile ♪ ♪ To know you're there ♪ ♪ A breath away is not far to where you are ♪ ♪ To know you're there ♪ ♪ A breath away is not far to where you are ♪ - Thanks to the Hamilton High School Choir for such a lovely performance.

Rob Maher has been helping with the hosting in the studio, but now Elizabeth Schmidt will be taking over.

Elizabeth is a faculty member at the School of Music at MSU, teaching the French Horn, as well as other courses to musicians of all disciplines.

Dr. Schmidt is a member of both the Bozeman and the Billing Symphonies and the Intermountain Opera Orchestra, as well as being an active player in the vibrant chamber music scene in Montana.

Please join me in welcoming Elizabeth to Studio A.

- Thank you, Tim.

And to our television audience, welcome back to Studio A and Celebrate America.

Next, we welcome Choteau High School Choir under the direction of Loran Depper.

Loran, would you tell us a bit about the choir's hometown and why you're participating in Celebrate America?

- Choteau is home to the Mighty Bulldogs and is located along the Rocky Mountain front about 45 miles northwest of Great Falls.

We have participated in Celebrate America before and we feel so honored to be here once again.

Celebrate America is such a unique opportunity for my students to prepare a song to recording quality and then work with the studio professionals knowing their performance will be broadcast to any and all who want to watch.

Thank you Montana PBS and Mr. Janis for creating this opportunity for students.

♪ When You can't find your way back home ♪ ♪ Oh when there's nothing to see ♪ ♪ Nothing but the end of the road ♪ ♪ I'm gonna find a way to take you through tonight ♪ ♪ But don't you know I'm gonna ♪ ♪ Shine on shine on into the night ♪ ♪ There aint no worries just sweet sunshine ♪ ♪ It's gonna be all right in the morning ♪ ♪ So you set out to points unknown ♪ ♪ Maybe on to where you should have gone ♪ ♪ But the strong wind blowing ♪ ♪ Sailing so long ♪ ♪ You come about to head on home ♪ ♪ I'm gonna shine on shine on into the night ♪ ♪ There aint no worries just sweet sunshine ♪ ♪ It's gonna be all right in the morning ♪ ♪ Don't let nothing steer you wrong ♪ ♪ Just head for the light and come on home ♪ ♪ Shine on shine on into the night ♪ ♪ There aint no worries just sweet sunshine ♪ ♪ It's gonna be all right in the morning ♪ - Hello.

If you're just joining us, I'm Tim Janis, the artistic director to Celebrate America.

Hasn't this been a wonderful showcase of Montana's talented vocal students?

We could certainly be proud of all these young people and their directors and teachers.

Our next choir is from Anaconda under the direction of Kim Lorengo.

The Anaconda Colliers is another choir that was unable to travel to Bozeman during the cold snap in January.

However, they sent along a recording of the performance of "The Water is Wide."

♪ The water is wide I can't cross o'er ♪ ♪ And neither do I have wings to fly ♪ ♪ Give me a boat carry two ♪ ♪ And both shall row my love and I ♪ ♪ There is a ship that sails the sea ♪ ♪ She's loaded deep as deep can be ♪ ♪ But not as deep as the love I made ♪ ♪ I know not how I'll sink or swim ♪ ♪ Loves beauty shines for all to see ♪ ♪ And my heart shines only for him ♪ ♪ (indistinct) ♪ ♪ Give me a boat that can carry two ♪ ♪ And both shall row my love and I ♪ - Thanks to the Anaconda Colliers for another wonderful performance.

Elizabeth Schmidt has been helping with the hosting duties in the studio.

Now Greg Young will take over.

Greg joined the music factory in Montana University in 1988.

Dr. Young has served as a vice provost for undergraduate education, assistant Dean of the College of the Arts and Architecture and Director of School of Music.

He's currently a clarinetist at the Intermountain Opera and Bozeman Symphony Orchestra.

Craig's been a strong advocate for interdisciplinary undergraduate research.

He teaches both clarinet and composition.

He's also a published author and his tour throughout the world as a soloist and conductor.

Please join me in welcoming Greg to studio A.

- Thank you, Tim.

And to our television audience, welcome back to Studio A and Celebrate America.

Fairfield Montana is home for our next choir.

Their director is Sarah Carpenter.

Sarah, would you tell us a little bit about your community and school?

- This is the Fairfield High School Choir, comprised of ninth through 12th grade students.

We are located along the Rocky Mountain front between Great Falls and Choteau.

Our mascot is the Eagle.

Our school and community pride ourselves on our students excellence in both academics and athletics.

We are very excited to be participating in Celebrate America for the third time.

♪ Have courage my soul and let us journey on ♪ ♪ Though the night is dark it won't be very long ♪ ♪ Thanks be to God the morning light appears ♪ ♪ And the storm is passing over ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ Soon you shall hear the distant shining shore ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ Will last forever more ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ Praise be to God the morning light appears ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ The storm is passing over ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ - A nice performance by the Fairfield High School Choir.

The Simms High School Choir will be performing for us next, under the direction of Sarah Davidson.

Sarah, would you tell us a bit about your community and your choir?

- I selected "Irish blessing" because of the beautiful sentiment expressed in the lush harmonies and the heartfelt lyrics.

Music bonds our class together just as our Sun River Valley community is bonded together.

Although the Sun River Valley covers a large geographic region, the school connects us all.

Here we rally to overcome anything that the Montana weather or even life can throw at us.

Our community warmly accepts families to the district and enjoys many activities built around our four day school schedule.

♪ May the road rise up to meet you ♪ ♪ May the wind be always at your back ♪ ♪ May the sun shine warm upon your face ♪ ♪ May the rains fall soft upon your fields ♪ ♪ And until we meet again ♪ ♪ May God hold you in the palm of his hand ♪ ♪ May the road rise up to meet you ♪ ♪ May the wind be always at your back ♪ ♪ May the sun shine warm upon your face ♪ ♪ May the rains fall soft upon your fields ♪ ♪ And until we meet again ♪ ♪ May God hold you in the palm of his hand ♪ ♪ May God hold you in the palm of his hand ♪ Let's one more round of applause for all the schools who have worked so hard to give us these great performances.

Thanks for joining us and thanks for supporting Montana PBS!

(wind blowing) Thanks for watching and supporting "Celebrate America" and Montana PBS.

Thanks also to Rob Maher, Elizabeth Schmidt, and Greg Young for helping hosting the program.

If you joined us midway through the program, I'm Tim Janis, musical director for the program.

This has sure been a wonderful way to share the choir performances of so many Montana students.

I hope you've enjoyed it and have been inspired in your own way.

I know I have!

And Montana PBS has been proud to produce another "Celebrate America Across Montana".

(winds blowing) "Celebrate America Across Montana with Tim Janis" is brought to you in part by Don and Marilyn Murdock The Montana State University School of Music The Friends of Montana PBS and by viewers like you!

Thank you!

(bright music)